How We Grow

2021 Nov/Dec How We Grow

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APR 18 OCT 18 APR 19 1000 500 0 OCT 19 APR 20 OCT 20 APR 21 OCT 21 150K 100K 50K 0K SUSTAINABILITY Grower Self-Assessments Skyrocket Along with record production and record shipments, the past year has seen a record number of almond growers complete all nine self-assessment modules in the California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP). The number of modules completed more than doubled – from 13,169 to 29,250. This means more than half of all modules completed since the self-assessment program was launched in 2009 were completed in the past assessment year, which is data for the 2020 growing season. At the same time, 9-Module Club membership also jumped from 581 to 1,036 orchards that have completed all nine modules. "We've seen a historic jump in the number of self-assessments in the past year," said Tom Devol, senior manager of Field Outreach and Education at the Almond Board of California (ABC). "This represents a significant commitment by growers and handlers to document the great work they are doing every day." A major driver of the grower increase is handler participation in the CASP Supply Chain program, which allows growers to share their information, confidentially and collectively, with their handler. This allows their handler to share that aggregate information with their customers. The numbers of orchards assessed under the Supply Chain Program more than tripled in the past year, from 305 to 1,414, while acreage assessed under the program grew from 69,950 to 149,706 acres. Why is this important? For customers who want to know their suppliers recognize the importance of documenting production practices, the CASP Supply Chain program helps handlers provide that information. Benchmarking to SAI FSA In 2018, the Almond Board benchmarked CASP against the global Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA), a recognized global sustainability platform. Laying CASP and California state regulatory requirements side by side with the FSA, CASP benchmarked at the FSA 2.1 Gold level. Benchmarking to SAI saves time, reduces redundancy, and provides credibility – growers who complete CASP self-assessments can demonstrate their equivalence to FSA parameters without having to complete the FSA. Benchmarking with CASP also SUPPLY CHANGE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION NUMBERS One Year Ago 305 orchards +1,109 +79,756 69,950 acres ACRES ORCHARDS 1,414 orchards 149,706 acres 32% of Assessed CASP Acres MONTH/YEAR TOTAL ACRES NUMBER OF ORCHARDS 17

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