Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1286027
A L M O N D O R C H A R D 2 0 2 5 G O A L S ZERO WASTE 9 Huller/Sheller's Vision to Yield Positive Returns, (Carbon) Negative Outcome Taking the long view to capture efficiency gains and return value to its member-owners is nothing new for North State Hulling Cooperative, Inc. This ethic was central to their founding in 1968, when a handful of almond growers formed the Chico-based co-op to reduce operating and maintenance costs in their personal hulling/shelling operations. Today, the 130 farming families that make up North State Hulling – many second- and third-generation member-owners – are once again looking ahead, reimagining the typical huller/sheller business model in a bid to deliver added value throughout the supply chain, from grower to consumer. "Our Board of Directors had a strategic session in the summer of 2018 that produced two big messages," said General Manager Mayo Ryan, who joined North State Hulling in late 2017. "The first message was, 'We are going to relocate,' and the second message was, 'Let's do it with a blank mental canvas' and think about some of the things we could do differently." Two years following that strategic session, North State Hulling built a new state-of-the-art hulling/shelling facility situated on 477 acres in Orland – while still leaving room on its conceptual design canvas (and new property) for the addition of several processes intended to return added value to its member-owners. The co-op's Phase II plans will make it the first of its kind: a "net carbon negative" zero- waste facility with the potential to help their growers improve everything from water use efficiency and soil health to integrated pest management and reduced harvest dust – supporting the almond industry on its journey to achieve each of the Almond Orchard 2025 Goals. Embracing challenges opens doors at new plant North State Hulling's co-op leaders decided a change in location would be in the best interest of member-owners to meet the need for more processing capacity, improved efficiency, and the desire to be a good neighbor. Rory Crowley, chief operations officer at Nicolaus Nut Company in Chico and second-generation grower and co-op member, recalled the process co-op leadership undertook to evaluate its next steps for growth. "In addition to the dust, urban encroachment and noise challenges at the old facility on Miller Avenue in Chico, we had antiquated equipment – old dryers, old hullers and old electrical equipment," Crowley said. "It became clear that we couldn't create a successful future for the next generation at the old location, so the question became, 'What's next?'" An exhaustive search for a suitable site led to Orland, where North State Hulling's new 59,000-square-foot facility can now process more than what their growers produce annually. The new plant can handle 120 truckloads per day – more than three times the capacity of the former Chico plant – and includes several innovative technologies designed to improve efficiency in the plant and the stockpile yard. Ryan walks through the concept used to develop North State Hulling's new 477-acre facility, which can process more than three times the capacity of the former plant.