The Almond Conference (TAC) is the premier almond industry event, drawing members of the almond community from across the globe. The 2019 conference, held at Cal Expo, provided a plethora of updates and perspectives on all things production research, global marketing tactics, technical and regulatory affairs, the ins and outs of food safety and more.
From Kerri Walsh Jennings to sterile insect technology, The Almond Conference 2019 had it all. The Almond Board of California (ABC) thanks all who helped make this year’s conference a success.
Check out key highlights from this year’s conference and be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s event, held Dec. 8-10, 2020!
ABC President and CEO Richard Waycott and ABC Chair Holly King kicked off this year’s conference with the annual State of the Industry address. During the address, Waycott and King emphasized the importance of strategic planning in an effort to anticipate future challenges and meet them head on.
Rob Kiss of Bayer Crop Science is the 2019 Almond Achievement Award winner. Rob’s service to the California almond industry is vast, with over 30 years of involvement in the almond community. Kiss’wife and children joined him on stage to receive the award.
Kerri Walsh Jennings (left) headlined the Tuesday luncheon. She spoke to attendees about how almonds fit into her healthy lifestyle and how she’s come to such success in her career, as she is the most decorated beach volleyball player in the history of the sport. Through the efforts of ABC’s Global Marketing team, Walsh Jennings will be a spokesperson for the California almond industry starting in 2020.
Industry members discuss a research project funded by the Almond Board during the Research Poster Session. On Day One of the conference, ABC announced an investment of $5.9 million dollars in 85 independent research projects exploring next-generation farming practices.
Since 2011, The Almond Conference has hosted a Silent Auction for the California Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation. All proceeds of the auction support FFA students in their continued education and learning experiences in agriculture.
John Stenderup, a world-class mountaineer and son of ABC Board Vice-Chair Kent Stenderup, spoke to attendees of the Wednesday luncheon about the necessity of grit and determination in the face of challenges. Stenderup is one of only seven Americans to have summited Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, K2 (second highest) and Lhotse (fourth).
During the session “New and Expanding Plant Diseases: Hull Rot and Ganoderma,” industry members learned more about how to better manage a long-known disease – hull rot – and what experts know, thus far, about a new disease on the scene, Ganoderma.
This crop year marks the ten-year anniversary of the California Almond Sustainability Program, or CASP. During Wednesday’s reception, Waycott offered up a toast to the program, thanking all growers and handlers who participate in the program and challenging the industry to reach 100% participation by 2022.
TAC’s Thursday morning General Session featured a power-packed panel of female innovators who are charting their own paths in the realm of plant-based foods. The panel included Madeline Haydon of nutpods, a nondairy coffee creamer made with almond and coconut cream; Ashley Thompson of MUSH Foods, an overnight oats product that is soaked in almond or coconut milk; Val Griffith of Skinny Dipped Almonds, almonds covered in a thin layer of chocolate; and Jenny Eu of Three Trees, a producer of organic almond milks. Jennifer Barney of 3rd & Broadway, a food product innovation consulting company, moderated the panel.
