Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1413164
newcomers Keith Schneller and Abhijeet Kulkarni. Adams said the team is fluid, meaning issues aren't reserved for specific members but they do have an area of focus based on their knowledge. "I'd say the incredible benefit of this group is everybody is coming with global experience, but we all have a different piece of that puzzle. We've all dealt with different aspects, and I'd say the real value is that all of our experiences are really synergistic to deal with a lot of the issues that we're dealing with." The experience of the team is impressive, and it allows them to tackle issues of any size to reach the goal, "finish line" if you will, of getting almonds to consumers. Other than Adams, Ludwig has the longest tenure of the group and coupled with Roseman they focus on domestic issues and sustainability. Baxter and Schneller are focused abroad with experience such as the Foreign Agricultureal Service and the US Foreign Commercial Service. Adams herself and Kulkarni bring years of experience from other nut marketing orders. High-profile trade issues are likely the only reason industry members have heard about the GTRA team or TRAC committee. Those issues have dominated headlines over the last four years and working with the Almond Alliance of California, the team has been instrumental in financial assistance programs like the Market Facilitation Program and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. But Adams said it's the other unexpected issues that the two teams help squash, so the flow of almonds never stops. Adams sighted one example where the European market suddenly started flagging almonds for a chemical that wasn't even used in production. The race was on for the GTRA team and TRAC committee, who initiated research and started a coalition with other nut groups. They found that a fertilizer used in almond production was triggering the same analytic result as the flagged chemical. "We started really moving on this and we actually got a limit established that was reasonable. It was something we could comply with, and it didn't change any of the ways we grow almonds or any of our procedures," Adams said. "We jumped in, we moved fast, we got it resolved and nobody ever knew about it." The TRAC committee is relatively new, but Adams said it's critical to how they operate. The committee acts as a pressure check for the team and helps them prioritize current issues and keep an eye on potential problems. "When I started there was no TRAC committee. We were part of an international committee that acted sort of like an advisory group," Adams recalls. "Then we started seeing these issues were getting bigger. We then became a sub-committee until it was clear we really needed this to be a full-fledged focus of the Board." Adams said the development of the TRAC committee and the new additions to the GTRA team have given the industry a lot of experience to stay in the race when it comes to maintaining and growing markets. "It takes a certain flawed-personality to be excited about dealing with some of these issues, I will admit," Adams chuckled. "That's what we have now though, a group of diverse backgrounds that are excited to deal with this stuff. Every day is different. Every day is frustrating, but every day is exciting as well." The GTRA Team Decathlon Roster The Global, Technical and Regulatory Affairs team is a specialized group of experienced individuals that each have a subject of focus, but can all jump in on any event to keep the team in the race. Team Captain Julie Adams – Vice President Focus: All trade and domestic issues Experience: 21 years at ABC, 15 years at American Peanut Council Director, Sustainability & Environmental Affairs Gabriele Ludwig Focus: Sustainability, domestic issues Experience: 11+ years at ABC, Consultant at Schramm, Williams & Associates Principal Specialist Geoffrey Bogart Focus: Foreign trade, Latin America Experience: 14+ years at the International Trade Commission Continue on page 13 Almond Board of California 12