The Almond Hullers and Processors Association (AHPA) has a new vision and a brand-new identity that was unveiled in April at the AHPA annual convention. As the premier advocate for the California Almond community, AHPA will now be the Almond Alliance of California (AAC). “Our message is very simple,” said AHPA President Kelly Covello. “The Almond Alliance of California is the only organization fully dedicated to advocating for and protecting our members’ investment in the almond industry. A new focus means we are not the same organization. We continue to value and serve our core members, but our vision and name need to reflect a broader mandate.”
AHPA’s board has adopted a strategic vision that sees AAC becoming “the premier advocate dedicated to the California Almond community.” The AAC will represent and serve growers, huller/shellers, handlers, processors and allied industry partners. Currently, there is no advocacy group dedicated solely to almonds.
The unveiling marks the culmination of more than a year of member consultation and a six-month strategic planning process by the organization’s leadership that drew on the expertise and wisdom of a broad cross-section of the leaders in the California Almond community. The Almond Board of California (ABC) and its board of directors and executive staff provided invaluable assistance in defining the critical issues of concern, mapping out where ABC and AAC intersect and where they operate independently. Covello explained, “Our Memorandum of Agreement with the Almond Board of California empowers us to pick up where ABC must leave off — advocating at any level of government — thus utilizing the investment growers have already made in research through the Almond Board to the fullest extent possible.”
ABC, as a federal marketing order, is specifically prohibited from lobbying, but is able to educate and to provide important research information on a wide range of almond industry issues. Almond Board President and CEO Richard Waycott applauded the AAC’s new direction and focus. “Both of our organizations are focused squarely on the California Almond community,” stated Waycott. “The Almond Board is committed to collaboration and creating a synergy between the two organizations. We look forward to working with the AAC on issues of mutual concern so that we are complementing each other’s unique strengths. ”
AHPA Convention attendees got a firsthand account of the major state legislative and regulatory issues facing the almond community when AHPA lobbyist Dennis Albiani of California Advocates addressed convention attendees. “There continues to be a huge need for engagement by almond industry members on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues,” said Albiani. “I look forward to helping the AAC make its voice heard in Sacramento.”
