Early in my tenure here, I started the vision that
Blue
Diamond
should achieve improved performance that
makes competitive return comparisons irrelevant. To
quantify that vision, grower-owners will remember
the goal of consistently achieving a $.10 per pound
advantage. For the 2017 crop, once again, we
delivered. We beat all the competitors and did so
with an amazing $.13 average! Most importantly,
Blue Diamond
continued to establish the expectation
that we are consistently the best. The
Blue Diamond
team understand that competitive returns are the most
important promise we make to our grower-owners. It is
how we repay the incredible trust put in us.
We also recognize
Blue Diamond’s
leadership role
within the almond industry. We serve the 3,000-plus
farm families that represent our co-op (and indirectly all
California almond growers) in ways that never show up
in our
Blue Diamond
performance measures. Favorable
outcomes on tax reform and almond industry tariff
relief were only realized due to the collective efforts
of our regional managers, government relations and
executive teams powered by the active involvement of
our grower-owners. Along with the co-op, the Almond
Board of California is a continuing source of strength for
our industry. There’s comfort in knowing that 40 percent
of almond board seats and committee assignments
benefit by the unique experience of our team members
and grower-owners. The industry will never show
Blue
Diamond
the appreciation that these efforts deserve,
but that does not deter our efforts, as serving all
almond growers is sometimes the best way to serve
Blue Diamond
growers.
Blue Diamond
is rapidly adapting to the changing retail
landscape, finding new ways to build consumer loyalty
for our brands and creating the product innovations
that address the changing preferences for plant-based
nutrition. Staying nimble is what allows us to continue
growing our sales and those of our customer partners.
Keeping this promise is what allows us to compete
against the biggest and best food companies in the
world. And, win!
The newest addition to
our executive team comes
to us with significant
international experience:
12 years at Coca-
Cola and a general
management perspective
gained as managing
legal counsel for Coke’s
Glaceau division.
Blue
Diamond
would like to welcome General Counsel
Simone Denny to the team!
We are blessed with so many loyal, long-term team
members and every year, among my favorite events, are
the anniversary celebrations that honor
Blue Diamond
’s
longest-serving team members. I get to hear the best
stories. What pleases me most is the obvious pride
our 1,500 team members have in being part of
Blue
Diamond
. We keep our promises to them, and for 108
years they have been keeping their promises to us.
Blue Diamond
team members are even better community
members. Santa’s Workshop with the Washington
Elementary Head Start program, urban gardens, Loaves
and Fishes, United Way, Ag in the Classroom, and FFA
are all examples of where team members donate their
time and dollars with matching support from the co-op.
With a focus on ag education, health and wellness,
and helping underprivileged children,
Blue Diamond
team members deliver on the promise to make our local
communities better.
Most of you will remember the Paul Harvey radio show
fondly. I have chosen to conclude my message the way
we remember Paul Harvey always did, “Now the rest of
the story…”
After earning my MBA from Northwestern, Carolyn
and I fulfilled my promise to get those school loans
paid off as soon as possible. It took us six years. As
you can imagine, my parents were pleased but took
even greater joy that I continued to be successful in my
career. Ten years ago, and at far too young an age, my
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