Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1170186
1 1 FROM LEADERSHIP In the summer of 2008, my brother-in-law, Wes Sperry, and I looked ahead to harvest and asked, "Do you think we could ever catch the almonds before they hit the ground?" Since then, this fairly simple question has taken us on quite a journey. Sperry Farms is a fifth-generation family-run operation that grows only almonds in the Central Valley. My father-in-law, brother-in-law and I are always asking ourselves how we can improve, spending hundreds of hours in the conference room at the white board sketching out new ways to improve current processes. This same kind of innovative thinking was on full display in 2018 as the Almond Board and industry members sought to define a path toward the almond orchard of the future. Together, the Almond Board of California (ABC) and the Board of Directors saw the need to push the level of innovation within the industry, leading to the development of the Almond Orchard 2025 Goals. The Almond Orchard 2025 Goals: f Reduce the amount of water used to grow a pound of almonds by an additional 20% f Increase adoption of environmentally friendly pest management tools by 25% f Achieve zero waste in our orchards by putting everything we grow to optimal use f Reduce dust during harvest by 50% The 2025 Goals have led to further discussion on how our industry can push the envelope and do more with less. At our Harvest Workgroup meetings, a select group of industry members – including the largest equipment manufacturers – discuss openly how we can achieve a reduction of 50% in dust during harvest by 2025. It is truly amazing that industry competitors can come together and work toward one common industry goal. I thank all those who volunteer time and resources in this workgroup. The goals have opened the door to conversations that we were not having before and allow us to better communicate our story of responsible farming to consumers in the Central Valley and beyond. I will always take time to talk to a consumer who wants to discuss irrigation and water use, pest control, etc., as those conversations are a great opportunity to share growers' continuous efforts to farm efficiently and to discuss the California Almond Sustainability Program. So, can we catch almonds before they hit the ground during harvest? We know it will take years and hard work to answer that question, but we should remain driven, innovative and excited for the discoveries just around the corner. Brian Wahlbrink Member, Board of Directors Chair, Harvest Workgroup Almond Board of California