Almond Journey

Mani Pandher joins the Journey to discuss the market for California almonds in India, and some exciting strategic changes to drive even more demand. Pandher discusses the history of success for California almonds in India, which has already become California’s top export destination. She also shares the opportunity yet to be realized in the market and answers what the Almond Board is doing to adapt: repositioning almonds, driving demand through integrated campaigns, and winning over younger shoppers.“When you have consumer love, emotional connection and credibility for a brand; that is what long term growth is built on. And that is what we’re trying to do in India.” - Mani Pandher In Today’s episode: Meet Mani Pandher, senior strategic advisor at the Almond Board of CaliforniaExplore the successful history of California almonds in IndiaDiscover the reinvented strategy for growing demand for California almonds in the region.The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices

September’s Marketing Bulletin explores how the Almond Board of California is growing demand for California almonds in Mexico’s bakery sector. ABC’s Becky Jeffers shares how they identified Mexico’s premium bakery category as a strong opportunity for almond usage and how the organization is working directly with bakers, culinary schools, chefs and industry events to inspire new almond-based products. From hands-on workshops and major trade shows to an upcoming harvest tour in California’s Central Valley, the episode highlights how education, creativity and personal connection are helping bring almonds to the forefront of bakery innovation in Mexico.

Andrea Carrothers and Carmen Berry of FoodMinds join the Journey to provide a look back, and ahead, of what’s happening globally in terms of nutrition policy that may affect almonds. FoodMinds partners with the Almond Board of California and their recent report focuses on the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative and as a result the interest in defining the term “ultra processed food.” Explore how this movement could impact the almond industry specifically, and why it’s important to be part of the conversation. “ We know almonds are nutrient dense and have a lot of health benefits, and then it's being compared to a product that doesn't have nutrient dense foods. It's hard to compare apples to apples.” - Carmen BerryIn Today’s episode: Meet Andrea Carrothers and Carmen Berry of FoodMindsExplore the impacts of the MAHA movement on the almond industryDiscover the significance in having a clear definition for what the label “Ultra Processed Food” meansThe Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

Entomologist Dr. David Crowder joins the Journey to talk about a project that could be beneficial for management of navel orangeworm. Crowder shares how phenology models have been used to manage major pests in other crops like codling moth and Colorado potato beetle, and how the same approach could help California almond growers with navel orangeworm. Often called "nature's calendar,” phenology is the study of the timing of recurring biological events in the natural world. Crowder says that using a phenology model can provide predictive information about the behavior of things like insect pests.“Trying to give people simple models of when something might happen seven to 14 days in advance, sending them a text message, ‘Hey, your bugs are going to be flying,’ these are the most effective models.” - Dr. David CrowderIn Today’s episode: Meet Washington State University Professor of Entomology Dr. David CrowderExplore the value phenology models can offer growers in managing insect pests including navel orangewormDiscover the trials available that producers can participate in to evaluate the use of the phenology models predictionsGrowers can create an account and explore the Decision Aid System at treenuts.decisionaid.systems/The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

This month’s Almond Byte from ABC’s Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team looks back at a busy 2025/26 year supporting market access for California almonds around the world. From progress on Japan’s voluntary aflatoxin pre-testing protocol and duty-free access into the European Union to strengthened relationships in key markets including China, India, Mexico, Morocco and the United Kingdom, the GTRA team worked to resolve nearly 100 trade and technical issues, protect export opportunities and represent California almonds in global regulatory discussions.