Best Boards Bytes Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 85: Building a Career in Almonds with Chris Chavez 25:11

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13d ago25:11

25:11

Chris Chavez joined the Journey to share his story of not coming from an agricultural background and thriving in a successful career in the almond industry. Today, Chavez is the director of almond trading at OFI and he reflected on his experiences trading almonds, partnering with a food company to explore regenerative almond production and joining …

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Almond Byte, August 2025: Market Access Year in Review 5:09

14d ago5:09

5:09

In this Almond Byte episode, the Almond Board of California’s Global Trade and Regulatory Affairs (GTRA) team takes a look back at the 2024/25 crop year, highlighting progress on key trade and technical fronts. From securing a breakthrough aflatoxin pre-testing protocol for almond exports to Japan, to helping a 50% tariff reduction in Pakistan, ABC…

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Episode 84: Moroccan Team Visits California 28:21

30d ago28:21

28:21

In this episode of the Almond Journey Podcast, Julie Adams, vice president of global technical and regulatory affairs at The Almond Board of California (ABC), hosts a few special guests to discuss a recent Moroccan trade mission visit to California. Adams is joined by Jason New, division director of marketing and development at the New Mexico Depar…

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Almond Byte, July 2025: Morocco Visit, Pakistan Cuts Tariffs and More 4:36

1M ago4:36

4:36

In July's Almond Byte, international trade developments take center stage. A Moroccan delegation visited California in late June, engaging with almond handlers and ABC staff to discuss export solutions that could open new trade opportunities. Meanwhile, Pakistan has slashed almond import tariffs by 50%, the result of years of collaboration between …

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Episode 83: Almond Economics with Brittney Goodrich, Ph.D. 31:06

2M ago31:06

31:06

Brittney Goodrich, Ph.D. joined the Journey to discuss the recent almond cost and return studies. Dr. Goodrich is an assistant professor in the department of agricultural and consumer economics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her previous position as a cooperative extension specialist at the University of California, Davis is where…

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Episode 82: Optimizing Your Irrigation System with Cory Broad 30:14

2M ago30:14

30:14

Cory Broad joined the Journey to discuss the latest in irrigation technology and management. Broad is the agronomic sales manager with AvidWater, and a member of the Production Stewardship Workgroup at The Almond Board of California (ABC). In this episode, Broad discusses his work helping growers with irrigation scheduling, technology utilization, …

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Almond Byte, June 2025: China Exporting Renewals, Latest on Tariffs and More 6:15

3M ago6:15

6:15

In the latest Almond Byte, highlights from June's Global Update by the Almond Board of California's Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team include critical renewal steps for almond handlers exporting to China, detailed discussions with Chinese officials to strengthen trade relations, and insights from the ABC's 2025 Environmental Stewardship …

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Episode 81: Almonds and Sustainable Nutrition with Bobbie Williams 25:46

3M ago25:46

25:46

Bobbie Williams joins the Journey as both a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and an almond grower. She contributes her expertise as part of the Almond Board of California’s (ABC) Nutrition Research Committee and the Environmental Stewardship Workgroup. Williams discusses her farming background, the latest in nutrition research, the power of …

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Episode 80: Mike Sonke's Almond Journey 21:28

3M ago21:28

21:28

Mike Sonke joined the Journey to share his perspective as a farmer and grower rep. He also is active with the Almond Board of California (ABC), serving on both the Technical & Regulatory Affairs Committee and the Global Communications Committee. In this interview recorded at the Almond Conference 2024, Sonke shares about his journey into farming, h…

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Almond Byte, May 2025: Latest on Tariffs, Outreach in Turkey and Morocco 5:54

4M ago5:54

5:54

Highlights from May's Global Update, from the Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team at the Almond Board of California, detail the latest in the complex world of tariffs, examining the recent 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs between the U.S. and China, and the potential impacts on the supply chain. Hear about the significant trade deal anno…

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Episode 79: Almond Marketing Insights with Craig Duerr 29:59

4M ago29:59

29:59

Craig Duerr joined the Almond Journey Podcast to talk about marketing almonds around the world. Duerr has over 25 years of experience in marketing almonds, first with the Almond Board of California, then with Campos Brothers Farms where he currently serves as vice president of global marketing and sales. This discussion explores the past, present a…

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Marketing Bulletin: Creating an "Avocado Toast" Moment for Almonds 4:53

4M ago4:53

4:53

In April's Marketing Bulletin, Laura Morin of the Almond Board of California shares the story behind the Board’s first major food service collaboration—a spring promotion with Smoothie King, the world’s largest smoothie chain. Currently running around the country from March through May, the partnership positions almonds as a go-to ingredient, promo…

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Episode 78: Almond Advocacy with Mallorie Hayes 24:19

5M ago24:19

24:19

Mallorie Hayes joined the Journey to discuss the importance of storytelling, outreach, and education to consumers, legislators, and key stakeholders. During this conversation, she shares her journey into the almond industry and her role in advocating for almond growers. Hayes highlights the industry's efforts in sustainability, legislative engageme…

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Almond Byte, April 2025: New Protocol for Japan, EU's New "Vision" 3:21

5M ago3:21

3:21

In this episode of the Almond Byte, the Almond Board of California’s Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team highlights two major regulatory developments shaping almond exports. First, a major milestone for U.S. almond trade with Japan: USDA and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor & Welfare have signed a voluntary aflatoxin pre-testing protocol.…

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Episode 77: Almond Genetics and Variety Development with Chuck Fleck 29:19

5M ago29:19

29:19

Chuck Fleck joined the Journey to discusses the latest in almond genetics and variety development. Fleck is the director of horticulture research at Sierra Gold Nurseries. During this conversation, he shares his journey into breeding almonds and almond rootstocks, what’s driving his breeding program and what excites him about the future of almond g…

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Almond Byte, March 2025: Tariff Updates, Morocco and Turkey Market Progress 6:50

6M ago6:50

6:50

March’s Almond Byte brings you the latest insights from the Almond Board of California’s Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team. This month, ABC made waves at Gulfood 2025, connecting with key buyers and exploring future opportunities in Dubai’s expanding trade landscape. Meanwhile, new tariffs on Chinese imports are impacting the global almo…

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Episode 76: Three Board Members Share Their Almond (Board) Journeys 33:59

6M ago33:59

33:59

Justin Morehead, Christine Gemperle and Darren Rigg all joined the Journey to share about their involvement with the Almond Board of California (ABC). These industry leaders discuss why they’ve decided to stay engaged with ABC over the years, and how their perspectives have changed since becoming involved with committees, work groups and board lead…

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Episode 75: Before You Plant Your Next Orchard with James Chinchiolo 27:54

6M ago27:54

27:54

Fourth-generation farmer James Chinchiolo grows primarily cherries and walnuts in Linden, California. He has two blocks that he’s looking to re-plant and he is considering planting almonds. In this episode, Chinciolo walks us through his thought process for how he’s approaching this decision and shares his framework for determining the best tree cr…

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Almond Byte, February 2025: America First Trade Policy, Tariff Implications and Aflatoxin Update 5:23

7M ago5:23

5:23

In this episode of Almond Byte, highlights from the February Global Update breaks down the America First Trade Policy memo, new tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, and what this could mean for the almond industry. With Canada and Mexico negotiating last-minute tariff postponements and China implementing targeted retaliatory measures, how will g…

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Episode 74: Winning Over Consumers with Laura Morin 34:51

7M ago34:51

34:51

Laura Morin is the director of marketing for North America and China at The Almond Board of California. She joined the Journey to talk about some of the latest marketing initiatives by the almond industry to boost the relevance, value and of course the demand for California almonds. Morin explains the partnership with Deon Sanders (AKA Coach Prime)…

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Marketing Bulletin: Own Your Prime at Radio Row 4:47

7M ago4:47

4:47

What happens when one of the biggest names in sports takes over one of the biggest stages in marketing? In the January Marketing Bulletin, we dive into Coach Prime Deion Sanders' powerhouse presence at Radio Row ahead of the NFL championship game. Representing California almonds through the Own Your Prime campaign, Coach Prime isn’t just talking fo…

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Episode 73: 2025 Outlook - Ten Industry Perspectives 22:58

8M ago22:58

22:58

People from around the industry joined the Almond Journey Podcast at The Almond Conference 2024 and were asked to share what’s on top of their minds headed into 2025. In this episode, you’ll hear highlights from Craig Duerr, Mallvinder Kahal, Rob Kiss, Michelle Penney, Bobbie Williams, Mallorie Hayes, Scott Hermann, Kabir Tumber, Chris Chavez and C…

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Episode 72: Reflecting on the Almond Journey in 2024 19:27

8M ago19:27

19:27

In this episode of the Almond Journey Podcast, we revisit some of the insights captured on this show over the past year. You'll hear highlights from Nav Athwal, Alicia Rockwell, Tim Jackson and Michael Kelley. These interviews highlight the vast array of almond-related topics covered monthly on the Almond Journey podcast. These year-end reflections…

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Almond Byte, December 2024: China Trade Mission, Food Labeling Law, Alternaria Mycotoxins 4:20

8M ago4:20

4:20

Highlights from December's Global Update by the Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team at the Almond Board of California details ABC's participation in the U.S. Ag Trade Mission to China, where ABC staff joined a large team of U.S. Ag Trade Associations at the China International Import Expo. ABC CEO Clarice Turner presented on California alm…

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Episode 71: Effective, Efficient and Safe Applications With Franz Niederholzer 26:18

9M ago26:18

26:18

UC Cooperative Extension Tree Crop Farm Advisor Franz Niederholzer joined the Journey to provide a practical overview of best practices for spray operations in an orchard. Trained as a soil scientist, Niederholzer started with Cooperative Extension over 20 years ago. Over the past few decades, he has developed and shared expertise on spray-related …

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Episode 70: Continuing Education and the Almond Learning Hub with Huller Manager Dan Lawson 27:38

9M ago27:38

27:38

Dan Lawson is a licensed Qualified Applicator and the Huller Manager at Treehouse California Almond. Lawson joined the Journey and shares about his job as a huller manager, what they’ve seen come in from the orchard these past couple of years, and how he keeps current in his continuing education efforts to stay up to date on best practices. “Navel …

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Almond Byte, November 2024: EU Meetings, Post-Election Updates and Country of Origin Labelling 4:44

10M ago4:44

4:44

Highlights from November's Global Update from the Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team at the Almond Board of Californian dive into key international developments impacting the almond industry. Get updates from ABC’s recent EU meetings, where staff members engaged with European trade and regulatory bodies to address critical issues affectin…

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Episode 69: Connecting with Consumer Through Cooking with Elisabeth Watkins 29:17

10M ago29:17

29:17

As a kid growing up on her family's farm in San Joaquin County, Elisabeth Watkins won TV cooking competition Chopped Junior. Since that time, Watkins has dedicated herself to teaching others about agriculture through cooking. Today she continues to make regular media appearances, including recent appearances on several Sacramento TV station morning…

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Marketing Bulletin: Mexico's Bakery Scene Gets Almond Exposure 6:53

10M ago6:53

6:53

In October's Marketing Bulletin, we're diving into the Almond Board of California's (ABC) latest market expansion strategy: bringing California almonds to Mexican bakeries. Join us as we explore how ABC's recent tour of California's Central Valley hosted top Mexican chefs and bakers, offering an in-depth look at the potential of almonds as a key in…

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Almond Byte, October 2024: World Food India, EU Elections, Japanese Inspections 4:05

11M ago4:05

4:05

In this episode of the Almond Byte podcast, we dive into ABC’s debut at World Food India, where almonds took center stage in discussions on food processing and health-conscious consumers. Hear about the key insights shared by the Ministry of Food Processing and how ABC is leveraging new connections to expand almond innovation in India. Plus, we’ll …

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Episode 68: Almond Industry Delegation Visits Washington, D.C. 28:03

11M ago28:03

28:03

In this episode, Almond Board of California Directors Brandon Rebiero and Kelli Evans discuss the almond industry delegation that recently traveled to Washington, D.C. The trip was an opportunity to engage with key government and legislative offices, providing an update on almond industry issues. They also discussed market development and innovatio…

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Episode 67: Off-Ground Harvesting and Soil Health With Bret Sill 26:15

11M ago26:15

26:15

Kern County almond grower Bret Sill shares some of his experiences building the soil biology in his orchards through practices like integrating sheep into the orchard and planting cover crops. Sill also discusses his experiments with off-ground harvest and reflects on how this approach might fit into his overall system. Ultimately, Sill is looking …

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Almond Byte, September 2024: China Visit, PEC Program Analysis, Morocco Potential 4:15

12M ago4:15

4:15

In September's Almond Byte podcast, we dive into the recent visit of a Chinese Nut Delegation to California's Central Valley, hosted by the Almond Board of California (ABC). Learn how this delegation of 25 Chinese importers explored the almond industry and why this group is a critical partner for trade relations. We also discuss ABC’s analysis of t…

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Episode 66: Red Leaf Blotch Found in California Almond Orchards 26:37

12M ago26:37

26:37

According to a report produced by a collaborative effort between UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension, the fungal pathogen red leaf blotch (RLB) was first detected in California almond orchards on the border of Merced and Madera counties in late May 2024. Previously known for its impact on almonds in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, RLB’s pr…

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Marketing Bulletin: Own Your Prime Back and Bigger for 2024/2025 4:59

1y ago4:59

4:59

In the August Marketing Bulletin, we dive into the exciting return of the Almond Board of California's "Own Your Prime" campaign, featuring NFL legend Deion Sanders for a second year. Tune in to hear how this partnership will expand its reach with fresh content, new media strategies, and why Coach Prime's genuine love for almonds makes this campaig…

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Episode 65: Evaluating Farm Technologies With Joseph Jackson 39:17

1y ago39:17

39:17

Joseph Jackson grew up in his family’s farming operation in the Visalia area. Upon deciding to downsize the family farming operation, Jackson took on an off-farm job as a Customer Success Director for Phytech. Jackson shares his perspective as someone who has implemented technology as a farmer, and someone who helps other farmers utilize technology…

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Marketing Bulletin: Exploring Market Opportunities in Turkey 7:36

1y ago7:36

7:36

Listen to July's Marketing Bulletin as we dive into Keith Schneller's recent trip to Turkey, representing the Almond Board of California. Discover how this journey – spanning Istanbul to Antalya and Mersin – unveiled significant market opportunities for California almonds. Schneller's meetings with major almond processors, insights from the TUKSAID…

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Episode 64: Farm Business Strategy With Nav Athwal 35:04

1y ago35:04

35:04

Nav Athwal joined the Journey to share his perspective on growing a farming business amid tough economic conditions. Athwal is the president of Tri-Nut Farms and president and managing member of Terra Ag Ventures. After growing up on the family farm, he became a real estate and land use attorney and then a technology entrepreneur. Seven years ago, …

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Almond Byte, July 2024: DC Trip, Export Webinar and EU Election Highlights 4:44

1y ago4:44

4:44

Highlights from July's Global Update from the Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team at the Almond Board of California begins with the ABC annual industry delegation's recent visit to Washington, DC, where almond growers and handlers engaged with key government and legislative offices. In addition, learn about the Ag Export Finance/Insurance …

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Episode 63: Precision Plant Nutrition And Finding A Career Calling In Ag with Joe Palomino 27:48

1y ago27:48

27:48

Joe Palomino is a Clovis-based agronomist and Certified Crop Consultant (CCA) who works for Axiom Agriculture. His work focuses primarily on crop fertility and soil health, but he also does some irrigation consulting as well. On today’s episode, Palomino shares how he ended up in agronomy without an agricultural background, his thoughts on finding …

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Marketing Bulletin: From Morning Ritual to Anytime Snack, New Almond Ads in India 6:11

1y ago6:11

6:11

California almonds are taking the Indian market by storm with a new advertising campaign aimed at younger consumers. The Almond Board of California's innovative ads blend humor with health benefits, encouraging Indians to snack on almonds beyond their traditional morning routine. Hear about the market dynamics, ideas behind the new advertisements, …

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Episode 62: Making Recharge and Cover Crops Work with Christine Gemperle 31:38

1y ago31:38

31:38

Almond grower and Almond Board of California (ABC) Director Christine Gemperle joined the Journey again, this time to discuss groundwater recharge, crimping cover crops, and continuing her efforts to build soil health in her orchards. Gemperle also provides an update about her work on the almond board and the trip this past year to meet with grower…

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Almond Byte, June 2024: Meeting and Trade Delegation Highlights 5:44

1y ago5:44

5:44

Discover how the Almond Board of California is helping to grow markets globally with key updates from recent trips by the Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team. From insightful participation in the International Nut & Dried Fruit Council Congress to engaging discussions at the AgTC Annual Conference, the team continues to address opportuniti…

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Episode 61: Almond Stewardship with Alicia Rockwell 20:56

1+ y ago20:56

20:56

Alicia Rockwell, vice chair of the Almond Board of California and chief government affairs officer at Blue Diamond Growers, joined the Journey to share her perspective on stewardship and advocacy for the almond industry. Rockwell discusses lessons from her work at Blue Diamond and Save Mart Supermarkets, the critical role California Almond Stewards…

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Almond Byte, May 2024: Expanding Shipments to Both Existing and New Markets 5:18

1+ y ago5:18

5:18

In recent months, the ABC Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team has been helping to expand global markets by meeting with key players in India, Turkey and Pakistan, and creating opportunities for the industry through both market promotional proposals. Hear the details from the trips and efforts, and about an upcoming webinar to help exporter…

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Episode 60: How to Plant a Tree and Orchard Recycling Update with Brent Holtz 26:04

1+ y ago26:04

26:04

Tree planting is a tremendous investment. The details of how to plant an orchard properly can have a big impact on the bottom line. In today’s episode, Dr. Brent Holtz explains the reasons that he regularly receives calls from growers about their young trees dying. These problems led Holtz to work with the Almond Board of California to create a vid…

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Episode 59: Return on Investment of Integrated Pest Management With Thomas Martin 30:18

1+ y ago30:18

30:18

Effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs for almond pests, especially for navel orangeworm, are not a one-size-fits-all situation and Thomas Martin says especially during these challenging economic times. Martin, a chemist by training and a regional technical representative for Trécé, was a participant in the Almond Leadership Program la…

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Marketing Bulletin: The Over Delivery of the Own Your Prime Campaign 8:01

1+ y ago8:01

8:01

Coach Prime and the Almond Board of California joined forces around the big game earlier this year, further extending their game-changing campaign. Dive into the behind-the-scenes action and unprecedented success of the 'Own Your Prime' partnership, as ABC's Laura Morin reveals the remarkable impact on California almonds and beyond.…

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Episode 58: Almond Nutrition Facts with Elena Hemler 26:29

1+ y ago26:29

26:29

In this episode of the Almond Journey Podcast, we return to The Almond Conference 2023 where we sat down with Almond Board of California Director of Nutrition Research Elena Hemler. Hemler joined the Almond Board over a year ago to work with the Nutrition Research Committee to lead efforts in expanding the body of knowledge about the health propert…

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Almond Byte, April 2024: Tariff Suspensions, Endocrine Disruptors and More 4:22

1+ y ago4:22

4:22

Highlights from April's Global Update – from the Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team at ABC – include the details behind the suspension of tariffs on almonds going into the UK, the findings from ABC's look into a French decree that was requesting information on endocrine disruptors properties on imports, and the latest on China's facility …