After a year and a half of supply chain problems, a massive trade imbalance, and challenges at ports, the Almond Alliance California has announced a collaborative private/public venture to ship nuts to foreign customers. From September 2021 to February 2022, California almonds lost $2 billion in revenue.
“There is a stockpile of nuts sitting in warehouses and at docks that have been grown, sold, and awaiting delivery to customers. We have found a solution to the challenges of a supply chain breakdown by working together. Because of this historic effort, we are finally bringing these nuts to market, which makes a massive difference for our farmers, economy, and communities,” stated Aubrey Bettencourt, President/CEO of the Almond Alliance of California.
The joint partnership includes Blue Diamond Growers, Union Pacific Railroad, the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland, ocean carrier CMA CGM, and other logistic leaders such as Van G Logistics. Working together, the California Almond Alliance has created port opportunities and new direct communications pathways and has begun booking with carriers.
“America’s great industries came together to find solutions and help protect American workers, businesses, and reputation,” said Bettencourt. “These important partnerships are a home-grown out-of-the-box first step to solving an enormous trade problem. This program will bring American Grown goods to market, preserve America’s reputation as a trade partner, and show that industry leaders can come together to meet challenges.”
The Central Valley Ramp to the Port of Long Beach, with the help of Blue Diamond Growers, Union Pacific Railroad, CMA CGM, and Van G Logistics, is the first to come online. The Almond Alliance has pilots underway at the Central Valley Ramp to get the nuts moving and on board ships.
In addition to the collaboration with Blue Diamond Growers, Union Pacific Railroad, and the ports and carriers, the Almond Alliance also took the opportunity to express sincere appreciation for the continued support of the California delegation, Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Padilla, Rep. Garamendi, Rep. Costa, Rep. Valadao, and Governor Newsom’s administration, Go-Biz Senior Advisor and Director Dee Dee Myers and the California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross.
“We’ve taken an important first step, and we are committed to building on this success to work together to meet the challenges we face,” concluded Bettencourt.
About the Almond Alliance
The Almond Alliance of California (AAC) is a trusted non-profit organization dedicated to representing and advocating on behalf of the California almond community. California almonds generate more than $21 billion in economic revenue and directly contribute more than $11 billion to the state’s total economy. California’s top agricultural export, almonds create approximately 104,000 jobs statewide, over 97,000 in the Central Valley, which suffers from chronic unemployment. The AAC is dedicated to educating state legislators, policy makers and regulatory officials about the California almond community. As a membership-based organization, our members include almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers and allied businesses. AAC works to raise awareness, knowledge and provide a better understanding about the scope, size, value and sustainability of the California almond community. For more information on the Almond Alliance, visit almondalliance.org.
