10
Almond Facts
JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016
Recognizing
Blue Diamond’s
Agricultural Advocates
New Series Profiles Growers Making an Impact
Blue Diamond Growers
is comprised of
entrepreneurial agriculturalists who are leaders
in California and beyond. The cooperative’s
growers are advocates for the industry, are
stewards of the land and contribute to the
prosperity of their communities by creating
jobs throughout the supply chain. In the fourth
year of California’s drought,
Blue Diamond’s
growers are working to grow their crop using the
most water-efficient techniques and sustainable
growing practices available.
Throughout 2016,
Blue Diamond
and Almond Facts will
be highlighting growers whose impact on agriculture
extends beyond the cooperative. From innovating
water efficiency techniques, to practicing sustainable
agricultural activities and healthy soil practices, the
cooperative has many examples of great leaders and
advocates who are poised to guide
Blue Diamond
into
the future.
Here’s a sneak peek of some
of the growers who will be
featured this year:
Jesse Sanchez - Firebaugh, CA
Jesse Sanchez, farm manager at Sano Farms, a
Blue
Diamond
member located west of the town of Firebaugh,
was recognized in October 2015 as a White House
Champion of Change. Sanchez earned this prestigious
acknowledgement for his contributions to sustainable
and climate-smart agriculture. Almond Facts will
explore his reduced disturbance system for improving
soil conditions, water storage and movement in the
soil in Sano Farms’ 1500 acres of processing and fresh
market tomatoes.
Daniel Bays – Patterson, CA
Daniel Bays is a graduate of
Blue Diamond’s
Young Leader
Program, a Cultivate California participant, and is a
fifth-generation
Blue Diamond
grower who received the
Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award from
the California Farm Bureau Federation, recognizing
efforts in production agriculture and leadership activity.
He represented California in national competitions at the
American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention
in Orlando, Florida. Read about his experience at the
national convention in a future issue of Almond Facts.
Matthew Efird – Fresno, CA
Matthew Efird,
Blue Diamond
member and fifth-
generation farmer, was selected as one of five honorees
for the DTN/The Progressive Farmer’s 2016 America’s
Best Young Farmers and Ranchers Program. The
program recognizes leaders in production and
management innovation, and also involvement in home
communities. Efird’s drought management techniques,
including investments in micro-irrigation technology,
have cut his water use by 30 to 50 percent. Learn how
he’s turned the difficulties presented by the drought into
opportunities to bring new technologies and practices
onto his farm in an upcoming Almond Facts.
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