Almond Handler Remembers First Export Market

Knowing what it takes to get into those almond export markets. Jim Jasper heads up Stewart and Jasper Orchards with almond growing, hulling, and shelling operations in the Stanislaus County area of Newman. Jasper says you need great quality to get to those international sales.

“We started off in the export market probably in 1990 or 91, and I always say you could be a McDonald's or you can be a five-star restaurant. And we kind of went that direction of the five- star restaurant,” noted Jasper.

“Because all of our growers are very close to us within probably 20, 30 miles. And the fact that we grow our own almonds, probably close to 10% of what we have coming in here coming from our own ranches,” said Jasper. “However, more than 90% is coming from our close neighbors, so we have pretty good control of the quality of almonds and who's growing almonds. And so we decided we wanted high quality almonds.”

“If you're producing high-quality almonds, you're going to be going to Japan, and South Korea. And our first sales would have been into those markets. And even today, those are the markets that we like,” noted Jasper

Stuart and Jasper developed some great relationships with those markets. “We like to think that we're a high- quality almond producer. That's what we're kind of noted for. And we're proud of that,” Jasper said.

Besides the export market, Stewart and Jasper is expanding throughout California's retail market with their own brands.