JULY | AUGUST 2017
Almond Facts
15
Building
Partnerships
through Grower
Connection Days
It’s surprisingly rare for
Blue Diamond
employees to find time to visit a farm and
see firsthand the product and people they
work so hard for. A new program, Grower
Connection Days, aims to change that by
giving employees an “on the field” experience
at a grower-owner farm. This opportunity
will help to increase their familiarity with
almonds and provide an inside look at the
work and business of operating a farm.
The first set of teams recently visited the
Rominger Farm, home of former
Blue Diamond
board members Gerry and Elaine Rominger,
in Arbuckle. The Romingers welcomed more
than 120 employees over the course of three
days and shared their knowledge of almond
farming, from planting an orchard to the
current political issues affecting growers.
“It’s incredibly valuable for myself and
others to understand the almond business,”
said Michelle Marquard, consultant for
Blue
Diamond
. “The trip was an excellent hands-on
classroom activity.”
Implementation of this program supports
Blue Diamond’s
commitment to work in
close partnership with grower-owners and
employees. Current and future employees can
look forward to participating in this program.
