Almond Industry Talks Trade, Legislation on Capitol Hill

During the first week of June, Almond Board of California (ABC) staff and industry members traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of an annual almond industry delegation. The trip provides an opportunity to meet with key federal agencies and congressional offices regarding almond industry issues and market conditions.

The delegation met with Congressmen Jeff Denham (R-Modesto), Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Chico). All three members sit on the House Agriculture Committee. They also met with staff members of the House Agriculture Committee and Senator Kamala Harris, and hosted a lunch and learn meeting with staffers from several California congressional offices.

In addition to individual visits, the group met with USDA Agriculture Marketing Service and Foreign Agriculture Service, the Food and Drug Administration and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Information on shipment prospects, strategic priorities and marketing initiatives were well received from each agency. The status of retaliatory tariffs and the Farm Bill were central to most of the meetings, however.

During these discussions, it became clear that while the tariffs on almonds are of concern to many authorities, the government’s primary focus is on China and tensions related to Intellectual Property violations. In order for the authorities to draw more attention to the industry,  they need more data on how the existing retaliatory tariffs are impacting almonds. The Almond Board is in the process of gathering information from industry members that will then be shared, anonymously, with Washington authorities.

This year’s trip again proved the value in taking growers and processors to Capitol Hill to speak directly with key stakeholders about how their actions impact the California almond industry. Developing these relationships is imperative to making sure our issues are being considered, and industry members participation helps ensure success.