Almond Hullers And Processors Association Rebrands, Retools

The Almond Hullers and Processors Association (AHPA) renamed itself the Almond Alliance of California at its annual convention in April, and with the name change comes a new vision of becoming the “premiere advocate dedicated to the California almond community.”

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“Our message is very simple,” Kelly Covello, AHPA president,  says. “The Almond Alliance of California is the only organization fully dedicated to advocating and protecting our members’ investment in the almond industry. A new focus means we are not the same organization. We continue to value and serve our core members, but our vision and name need to reflect a broader mandate.”

The AAC will represent and serve growers, hullers/shellers, handlers, processors, and allied industry partners. Currently there is no advocacy group dedicated solely to almonds.

The unveiling marks the culmination of more than a year of member consultation and a six-month strategic planning process by the organization’s leadership that drew on the expertise of a broad cross-section of the leaders in the California almond community. The Almond Board of California and its board of directors and executive staff provided assistance in defining the critical issues of concern, mapping out where the two organizations intersect and where they operate independently.

“Our Memorandum of Agreement with the Almond Board of California (ABC) empowers us to pick up where ABC must leave off — advocating at any level of government — utilizing the investment growers have already made in research via the Almond Board to the fullest extent possible,” Covello says.

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AHPA Chairman Dick Cunningham said the lengthy strategic planning process was healthy for the organization and the almond community.

“It’s crystal clear that the need has never been greater for advocacy on behalf of our multibillion dollar industry on issues ranging from fumigants, pesticides, and food safety to water and trade,” Cunningham says. “There is a need for a unified advocacy voice and leadership in the California almond industry. Our leadership firmly believes the time is now to act and ensure the sustainability and future success of the California almond community.”

The Almond Board of California (ABC) as a federal marketing order is specifically prohibited from lobbying but is able to educate and to provide important research information on a wide range of almond industry issues. Almond Board President and CEO Richard Waycott applauded the ACC’s new direction and focus.

“Both of our organizations are focused squarely on the California almond community,” Waycott says. “The Almond Board is committed to collaboration and creating a synergy between the two organizations. We look forward to working with the ACC on issues of mutual concern so that we are complementing each other’s unique strengths.”

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