In June, Almond Board of California (ABC) staff and several industry members visited Washington, D.C., for ABC’s annual visit to update government agencies and industry alliances about almond production and market development issues. The delegation represented several committees, including Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Almond Quality and Food Safety, Industry Services and Production Research, as well as the Board of Directors.
Back Row (left to right): ABC President and CEO, Richard Waycott; Production Research Committee member Kyle McClintock; and Board of Directors Vice Chair, Kent Stenderup. Front Row: Almond Alliance of California President, Kelly Covello; Vice President, Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Julie Adams; Technical and Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair, Martin Pohl; and Industry Services Committee Chair, Van Soetaert.
During the week, the group met with various government agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The group also visited the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Bee Research Lab, one of several ARS labs focused on honey bee health. ABC hosted an educational briefing for legislative staffers about the California Almond industry, ABC research programs, the California Almond Sustainability1 Program (CASP) and the Accelerated Innovation Management (AIM) initiatives. Many of the staffers attending were from urban areas and interested in learning more about one of California’s top crops.
1. Sustainable almond farming utilizes production practices that are economically viable and are based upon scientific research, common sense and a respect for the environment, neighbors and employees. The result is a plentiful, nutritious and safe food product.
