Workshops, Events Promote Understanding

 The Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs program of the Almond Board hosts several events throughout the year. Recently, we hosted the Agriculture Transportation Coalition Workshops in Fresno and Sacramento. These highly attended workshops provided a forum for shippers, port representatives and the agriculture industry to discuss the challenges they are facing. They also provided an excellent way to engage with a major ocean carrier, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Port of Oakland and a port operator company, to discuss mutual solutions to long wait times for gate entry, Safety of Life at Sea, port operation changes in Oakland and other issues.

In March, we sponsored a booth during Ag Day at the Capitol. This year’s theme was “Golden State on Your Plate,” and celebrated California’s great agricultural bounty.

Attending Ag Day at the Capitol is a wonderful way to bring awareness of the almond industry to elected officials and their staffs who tour the booths before they are opened to the public. The Almond Board provided information on the industry’s improvements in water conservation, bee health and sustainability. We also gave away hundreds of the always-popular almond snack packs.