The Huge Value of the Almond Alliance

The Almond Alliance is dedicated to educating state and federal elected officials, policy makers, and regulators about the California almond community. And they're able to lobby as well for things that the almond industry needs. Anthony Plaza is the manager of Salida Almond Hulling based in Stanislaus County. He also sits on the board of the Almond Alliance, which is formerly known as the Almond Hullers and Processors Association.

“Over the years, the Almond Alliance is doing more and more for the almond grower, not only the processor--- with regulations coming up on with water, with pesticides, and with the labor code,” said Plaza.

“We've been able to push back on a lot of the regulations. We have a good story to tell. So, we need to tell that story. The almond board can go so far in educating, but to advocate,” noted Plaza. “That's why the Almond Alliance has stepped up and has that memorandum of agreement with the Almond Board, where we can go in and support people and candidates that are helping the agriculture industry, specifically the almond industry. That's the main thing I see,” he said.

And the to-do list of the Almond Alliance. Wow. It goes over 200 items. “You look at the list of proposals and potential bills. You can't even fathom how many there are. And we have two advocates in Sacramento and they go through and pick up, okay, these are the 10 or 15 that we really have to push to get knocked down,” said Plaza.