Each June, Almond Board of California (ABC) staff and industry members visit Washington, D.C. The annual fly-in marks a week of hectic activity as the group, representing several ABC committees and the Board of Directors, as well as the Almond Alliance, meet with multiple Federal agencies and Congressional offices.
This year, we met with Congressmen Jeff Denham (R-Modesto), Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and David Valadao (R-Hanford). Both Representatives Denham and Costa sit on the House Agriculture Committee and Representative Valadao is Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. We also met with staffs of the House Agriculture Committee and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif). The focus of these meetings was the 2018 Farm Bill and the many programs leveraged by the California Almond industry. Meeting with D.C. representatives from the American Farm Bureau and Western Growers Association also helped to identify common interests and objectives.
No trip would be complete without seeing USDA staff from the various agencies with which we cooperate, including the Ag Marketing Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Agricultural Research Service. Meetings were also held with the Food and Drug Administration and the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs.
Finally, we had the opportunity to meet privately with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Secretary Perdue is from Georgia and has a strong agricultural background. Georgia grows specialty crops including peaches and pecans, which should further his understanding of almonds.
There is a lot happening in Washington that will directly impact California Almonds and the way we farm. Having a relationship with key stakeholders is an essential part of making sure our issues are being considered. And having growers and processors talk directly about California Almonds is the most compelling way to do it!
