Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1218525
MOVERS AND SHAKERS 18 international markets. While almonds' unique brand of nutrition and versatility has largely fueled demand, interest in almond sustainability issues continues to grow among international buyers and food professionals. "Globally, almonds check a lot of the boxes for research and development professionals in the food industry," said Harbinder Maan, associate director of Trade Marketing and Stewardship at ABC. "They're looking for ingredients that are consistent with the nutritional aspects of plant-based diets and versatile in texture and flavor. Almonds have stood that test of time through proactive research and recognition of consumer preferences." Maan notes that CASP fulfills the demand for growing transparency in international markets "because there is data behind the program, and that helps reinforce confidence with food professionals." According to Maan, the European market leads the way in seeking sustainability information, especially related to environmental performance. "Buyers and food professionals are under fire all day long on matters related to transparency, and California almonds have to be able to defend their position well," Maan said. "From a competitive standpoint, California almonds are on a stronger footing if we can check off the 'sustainability box.' CASP helps us do just that." Supply Chain Program: a success story Blue Diamond Growers undertook a new endeavor last year, asking its growers to complete three of the nine CASP modules to address its customers' most frequently asked questions. By having growers complete the Irrigation Management, Bee Health and Pollination, and Pest Management modules, the cooperative not only saw an opportunity to answer customer inquiries but also lead the sustainability conversation. "There are broad definitions of sustainability among the food industry, and we had a chance to define what almond sustainability — as it relates to water, bees and pest management — means to our customers," said Ben Goudie, membership development manager at Blue Diamond Growers and chair of ABC's Global Communications Committee. Goudie noted that while sustainability is a core value of the cooperative, a practical business case also exists for why there should be widespread adoption of CASP. According to Goudie, many of the cooperative's key customers require sustainability information as part of a good working partnership. He says while companies such as Walmart, General Mills, Unilever, Kellogg's and Chobani are all interested in sustainability information, each have key requirements related to different issues, such as greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, water, labor and land stewardship. "CASP does a good job of satisfying our customers' requests for information and data related to these areas," Goudie said. "That made choosing CASP a no-brainer. Plus, it was an existing platform that was ready to go and less intense for growers to complete compared to other existing programs." "Simply put, sustainability equals market access," Goudie said. "It allows Blue Diamond to create positive stories backed by credible information — and that's the key. It allows us to communicate to customers and consumers about how our almonds are produced in our fields and in our facilities, helping maintain a business relationship going forward." Since adoption of CASP, Goudie says he's had many conversations with growers who are asking an important question — what's in it for me? He's quick to point to the recommendations for growing improvements and best management practices included in the program, as well as free decision support tools available to growers, such as the nitrogen and irrigation scheduling calculators. He has also seen growers identify efficiency issues they didn't know existed within their operation until after completing the CASP modules. Goudie sees tremendous opportunity for elevating the relevance of CASP with major almond buyers, including a future where the program satisfies all the needs of customers, thereby significantly reducing the need for growers and handlers to participate in multiple sustainability programs. "Instead of a company coming to us and requiring participation in their own corporate sustainability program, I would love for them to say, 'You have critical mass of grower participation in CASP, so that data will satisfy our requirements.'"