Reps Around the World for the Almond Industry

Reps Around the World for the Almond Industry

Patrick Cavanaugh
Patrick Cavanaugh
The Almond Board of California has a big marketing staff around the world representing key countries that almonds are exported to.

Sudarshan Mazumdar is a regional director of India, a major market for California almonds. “I'm responsible for the entire India program. I focus on marketing and increasing demand, but also in terms of trade relationships and working with people here in terms of the government issues to ensure that almonds can come in smoothly,” he said.

Mazumdar said the primary focus for him in India is marketing. “Since it is major export market and we're growing,” he said. “I think that's my primary focus,” he said.

He also stays in contact with importers to keep them motivated…”to continue to bring in almonds as well as try to train the food companies on technical issues, so consumers can get a good experience where they have almonds,” noted Mazumdar.

He also keeps an eye on government issues to minimize any restrictions that would be in place for almond imports. ”We try to provide information to the government so that they are better informed when they come out with regulations,” Mazumdar said.

Now the Almond Board cannot lobby or get political. “We are at the technical level in India,” he said.

Mazumdar said there are tariffs and regulations on almonds into India. “What we're trying to do is to make sure that regulations are similar to what they are in other countries. Sometimes the regulations are India can be more severe, and sometimes without any basis in terms of technical knowledge,” noted Mazumdar. “We want to ensure that they are comparable to other countries so almond can move more easily into the Indian market.”

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