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 shows displaying almond-based recipes. In this episode, Watkins offers her perspective on how to communicate about agriculture to mainstream audiences.

“We need to get back into education. We need to get back into schools and be at the top of everyone's minds when it comes to their health and wellness.” - Elisabeth Watkins

In Today’s episode:

• Meet agriculture marketing consultant and former Top Chef Junior champion Elisabeth Watkins from Linden, California
• Discover how Watkins surprised her parents with pursuing a Top Chef Junior competition she would go on to win
• Explore the different avenues commodity groups can take to better expose various industries to new ingredients and recipes to increase overall crop consumption

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.