Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1349956
Get to Know Your Board – Part Seven In the July/August 2019 issue of How We Grow, we published Part One of our series "Get to Know Your Board." In this series, we're profiling members and alternates of the Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors, which is composed of ten members — five growers and five handlers — with each member having one alternate. This group of individuals embraces the California almond story and is living it every day, just like you. Read Part Seven of this series below, which highlights two industry members who serve as alternates on ABC's Board of Directors, and be sure to check out future issues of How We Grow for more alternate Q&As. When did you first become involved in the California almond industry? Lisa: I married into the industry in 1976. My husband and his father were farming peaches and almonds at the time. We bought our first 20 acres in 1978 and within 10 years were farming almonds and walnuts exclusively. By 1992, we were growing only almonds. Bill: I became involved in the almond industry when I joined a long-time Kern County family farm, the Jeff Fabbri Group, in early 2004 as the Chief Operating Officer. I entered this role with extensive farming background, having grown up in Arkansas on a beef and chicken farm and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. I came to California as a registered mechanical engineer and designed/commissioned several food processing plants for carrots, tomatoes and grapes before getting involved in the almond industry with the Fabbri Group. We were a family-based organization that farmed family-owned almond properties and provided farming and investment services to investors. I have enjoyed being involved in the day-to-day farming activities out in the orchards. What does it mean to you to sit on ABC's Board of Directors? Lisa: It is a huge opportunity to gain understanding of our industry as a whole. While on the Board, you are privy to information on global marketing, research on new almond varieties, disease control and human health and nutrition, as well as the communication to consumers that is necessary to convey our story to the rest of the world. It's an honor to be part of all that. Bill: I have always been humbled by the opportunity to represent the almond growers in our industry. We as directors of the Almond Board of California (which is a Federal Marketing Order established to enhance and sustain the "net return" to California almond growers) have a responsibility to produce the knowledge and foresight necessary to make the best decisions that result in long-term benefits to growers. Almond growers fund the activities of the Almond Board with their hard-earned money and trust us, the Board of Directors, to direct those funds in order to sustain an organization that strives to build demand ahead of production and make the decisions (sometimes hard and difficult) that will keep the industry profitable and innovative, always looking ahead. What about the industry do you most appreciate and take pride in? Lisa: The almond growers. They are an amazing group of farmers: they have worked very hard to grow more with less water, less chemicals and less waste at the end of the lifecycle. Bill: The growers and industry members who respect each other even when difficult challenges and differing opinions arise. I have developed many great relationships with growers, processors, marketers and ABC staff as a result of working together to address situations that challenge the industry. These challenges have led to innovative solutions with new approaches, products, programs and relationships that continue to build demand for almonds worldwide. I especially appreciate the talented and focused ABC staff members who make a director's job so much more productive and enjoyable. ALMOND COMMUNITY Bill Harp Grower, Harp Farms Alternate, ABC Board of Directors Lisa Giannini Grower, Blue Diamond Growers Alternate, ABC Board of Directors 13