2014 Summer APG Newsletter
Transcription
2014 Summer APG Newsletter
NEWS Summer 2014 2014 Annual Membership Luncheon ‘Cheers’ to New APG Partnerships Kathleen Kissee, Rebecca Hall, Haiying Zhang, and Genaro Gonzales. Growers Gary Robinson and Gary Smith recounted their recent experiences representing APG in China where they traveled with 2013 Miss California Crystal Lee to promote American pistachios. American Pistachio Growers current and future members have found time in their busy summer schedules for the past seven years to attend the APG Annual Membership Luncheon in Visalia. Industry friends, surprises and prizes continue to attract record crowds, and this year more than 340 signed up to attend the July 25 event. Current members and those who committed to change their status from ‘future’ to ‘current’ member received an APG pistachio shopping bag with logo Octoberfest beverage glass and pistachio cluster wine/water sleeve. All attendees were also treated to a six pack of Michelob Ultra beer courtesy of Anheuser-Busch in celebration of their new partnership with American Pistachio Growers that encourages consumers to purchase APG member product by offering a generous discount. The APG store was also open for business and attracted a crowd eager to purchase logo sample clothing on sale. Members may order popular customized items on the APG website’s password-protected member portal. 2014 APG Chairman Thom Dille welcomed guests and introduced Miss California 2014, Marina Inserra, who was crowned at the June pageant in Fresno and will serve as an APG nutrition and health ambassador during her reign. She performed a beautiful rendition of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and snapped photos of the group for social media posting. Informative presentations and updates were provided by APG Executive Director Richard Matoian, Global Marketing Director Judy Hirigoyen and Marketing Project Managers APG HIGHLIGHTS Annual Membership Luncheon Toast of the Town 2014-2015 Assessment Rate and Budget Approved First Ever APG Production Seminars with Bob Beede Ambassador Update: New Miss California Crowned Amgen California Tour: Growers Cheer Cav’s Multiple Wins 10 Addy’s Awarded APG for Excellence in Marketing Annual Luncheon participants never leave empty headed or handed. This year, beer was donated by Anheuser-Busch to add to fun APG logo giveaways. 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 1 Regional Meetings Attract Growers across California Miss California 2014 China Tour Promotes Happy Nut 8/29/14 1:59 PM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE As we approach the 2014 harvest season, American Pistachio Growers continues to move forward with programs determined by its governing Board, especially marketing and PR campaign funding. For the upcoming 2014/15 fiscal year, APG has once again devoted the majority of its budget dollars to these areas. Marketing, which includes Nutrition Research, will total more than nine million dollars, just over 78 percent of the organization’s total budget. This is consistent with our ongoing focus on marketing pistachios ahead of production and supports APG efforts to increase consumer demand throughout the globe. Our marketing approach is transformational rather than transactional and leads to long-term positive changes in purchasing habits and how pistachios are perceived by consumers. This year’s crop is expected to yield somewhere around 500 million pounds, slightly down from initial estimates due to climate and water conditions affecting production. The 2012 record crop of 555 million pounds should be broken within a few years, and a billion pound crop is still expected by 2020. It is critical to the future health of the American pistachio industry to continue expansion of key markets worldwide to ensure demand will absorb increased production at returns that are viable to growers. In April and May, APG conducted its annual regional meetings, with approximately 200 growers in attendance at four locations throughout California. APG will also again participate in the annual Arizona pistachio growers meeting in October. These gatherings provide opportunities to meet directly with our producer members in their locales and to interface on topics of interest to the industry. Our Annual Membership Luncheon in Visalia on July 25 reached a new attendance record with well over 300 in attendance. This spring we also conducted pistachio seminars at various locations utilizing the talents and expertise of Bob Beede, a well-known advisor in the industry who recently retired from his post as UCCE Farm Advisor. We were fortunate to have his help in getting the word out to growers on issues affecting this year’s crop. Thank you to all who participated in these APG events. Your feedback helps assure us that APG continues on the right path in its various program areas. After the Annual Membership Luncheon, the APG Board met and officially approved its budget for the 2014/15 fiscal year. For the sixth year in a row, APG has been able to maintain assessments at the same rates - rare among commodity groups. It’s been the positive growth in membership that has allowed APG to continually increase the amount of dollars expended on various programs without raising the assessment rates. Another fine group of future leaders is enrolled in our 2014 Leadership Program that is going strong and growing more popular each year. Many graduates have gone on to serve on the Board and/or Committees, which was the original intent of the program. We appreciate the ongoing support of our members and the network created that benefits everyone. Thank you for continuing to spread the word to your neighbors who have not yet joined American Pistachio Growers. 2014/15 CY Assessment and Budget Approved An open meeting of the APG Board of Directors was convened immediately following the July 25 Annual Membership Luncheon in Visalia. After thorough discussion, the Board unanimously approved the following actions: • 2013/2014 Audit of APG operations • 2014/2015 Budget totaling $11,725,882 • Grower assessment maintained at $0.025/pound • Processor assessment maintained at $0.015/pound • 2016 Conference venue: JW Marriott in Palm Desert • Merger of the Annual Report and Conference Committee and Membership Communications Committees; renamed the Membership Services Committee The next meeting of the APG Board will be held at the Fresno office November 12. APG is a democratically led organization that encourages members to attend and actively participate in all open Board meetings. 2 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 2 8/29/14 1:59 PM CHAIRMAN’S CORNER We now approach harvest with many questions about how the weather and water have impacted our 2014 crop. From our experience and many others, the bloom timing, the lack of chill hours and the water situation remain foremost in our minds. We cannot forecast the yields, we can be certain we have all done the best we can to keep our trees and businesses moving forward. We are all fortunate to participate in one of the great crop stories of the 20th and now 21st centuries. As our industry expands, we all need to encourage membership in APG. As an organization, we need to continue providing valued programs for our members. This summer, we initiated a new “Tailgate” seminar program with our friend Bob Beede. I hope you all had a chance to attend the June sessions for updates on water, cultivation and pest management. I know each session had varying questions and topics; but as always, Bob provided relevant feedback and timely information. Let us know if that is the type of program you enjoy and expect from APG, and certainly feel free to make suggestions about other areas in which the organization can assist all members. Bob Beede recently provided a “White Paper” on the history and research concerning the Navel Orangeworm in our pistachios. It is worthy of review by all to see the potential impact on our industry and the efforts to control the level in the field. It is a topic we should all be aware of and address as effectively as possible. This year we are hosting our fourth Leadership Program, the largest class with 18 participants. The program content has improved annually and provides a wonderful overview of our industry and organization with participants creating new friendships. The number of educational lectures has expanded this year, with eleven different meetings and educational opportunities for class participants. This program was originally created by Brian Blackwell and Jim Zion to encourage participation in our organization at all levels. We have many areas for service, and we encourage all to find a niche where you participate and contribute. My personal participation in APG always provides knowledge and opportunities to improve our business methods and results. APG has committed to maintain efforts to effectively promote our product both domestically and internationally. Our Finance Committee and Board of Directors understand the importance of marketing and directing your assessment dollars to promote our pistachios. The Board has approved a 2014-15 budget that is consistent with this current year’s efforts. We expect to continue to market and promote in anticipation of the larger crops anticipated as new acreage reaches maturity. With the current global political climate and the possibility of changes in USA policies concerning Iran, our organization is prepared to react, if needed, to any change in import policy. Our Government Policies and Partnerships program is a wonderful place to participate in our organization, as they deal with both Federal and State matters throughout the year. Our Membership and Annual Report/Conference committees now work together to present and coordinate our annual member services and activities. We will continue to publish the Annual Report, print newsletters, distribute eNews to members and hold membership events throughout the year. I am personally impressed with our eNews and the valued content concerning our promotion activities internationally and domestically. If you need any additional information, contact the APG office, they’re always at your service. Our Annual Conference for 2015 will again be held in San Diego at a new venue, Paradise Point - San Diego’s Island Resort. This is a bungalow type resort with lots of beachfront and the conference facilities we need to present our programs for the upcoming year. Look for information that will be sent in early fall first to members, so sign up right away - and remember to wear your island and APG apparel. APG Production Seminars To provide an opportunity for our members to obtain important field information from one of the leading experts in the industry, APG hosted members-only pistachio production seminars on June 20, 24 and 25. Led by Bob Beede, UCCE Farm Advisor, Emeritus, members received an informative lecture and question-and-answer session relating to production issues and advice on how to deal with various orchard challenges faced by growers. During the sessions, Bob distributed a thought-provoking “pop quiz” on pistachio production. Answers were posted on the member portal of the APG website. Based on enthusiastic feedback from members, similar seminars will likely be held in the future. 3 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 3 8/29/14 1:59 PM APG MARKETING UPDATE Introducing Newly Crowned Miss California 2014 APG’s Health, Fitness & Beauty Ambassador Miss California, Marina Inserra, formerly Miss Yosemite Valley and a San Diego native, was crowned in Fresno, California on June 27. Her talent is vocal, and her platform is breast cancer awareness. I am honored to be representing American Pistachio Growers as their Ambassador. I have always been very mindful of my diet, making every calorie count. Pistachios are one of my favorite foods. They are delicious, satisfying and filled with the nutrients I need to help me be my very best. American pistachios are the Official Snack of Miss California, who is universally regarded as the personification of the iconic California lifestyle. As APG’s health, fitness and beauty ambassador, Miss California represents APG at global events and through social media. APG Ambassador Mark Cavendish Leads the Pack in California AMGEN Tour As he has done 25 times at the Tour de France, APG Ambassador pro cyclist Mark Cavendish (Cav) rode the wind to win the first and final stages of the AMGEN Tour of California. In the first stage, in Sacramento, he narrowly edged out Germany’s John Degenkolb, coming from behind in the final meters with a spectacular tire-rim win - the closest finish in nine years. In the final stage in Thousand Oaks, he sprinted to a narrow victory with a drag race to the finish line, taking the prize by a whisker, edging out Degenkolb once again. APG witnessed Cav’s victories first-hand and maximized opportunities to raise awareness of the powerful benefits of American pistachios for active lifestyles. At each stage of race, the Pistachio mobile and our Ambassador Leah Tibbitts, along with Global Marketing Director Judy Hirigoyen, rooted for the cyclists and handed out APG sample packs. To add to the excitement, race attendees were invited to enter a raffle to win a 100-day supply of American pistachios. 4 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 4 8/29/14 1:59 PM National Nutrition Month Press Release In celebration of National Nutrition Month® (March), APG generated a press release that urged consumers to get fit for spring with delicious, nutritious pistachios. An infographic (left), “The Skinny on Pistachios” was also distributed to graphically communicate the nut’s health benefits in the areas of weight management, heart health and nutritional breakdown. It is based on results of APG funded nutrition research at California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and Pomona campuses. Drs. Bonny Bums-Whitmore and Laura Hall presented the results April 27 at the 2014 Experimental Biology Conference in San Diego. Pistachios Support Men’s Health Men’s Health Month was established to heighten awareness of preventable health issues affecting men and boys. APG joined in this national effort by pitching targeted media outlets with the nutritional benefits of pistachios. As a result, American pistachios were featured on Good Morning San Diego with APG Nutrition Ambassador Becci Twombley offering tips for men’s proper nutrition and smart food choices, such as pistachios. APG Wins 6 Gold/4 Silver ADDY Awards For the second consecutive year, APG has received multiple ADDY awards for creative excellence in marketing and promotion. These nationally acclaimed awards are given out annually by the American Advertising Federation to recognize creative excellence in local markets. APG won six gold and two silver ADDYs in the Central Valley competition and two more silvers in the second tier with entrants from Northern California and Nevada. These awards brought our two-year total to 26. All American Baseball and Pistachios APG celebrated the 4th of July with the Fresno Grizzlies Baseball team. Our popular mascot, American Pistachio, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the game; throughout the game, he tossed APG pistachio sample packs into the crowd as they chanted, “PISTACHIOS,” “PISTACHIOS,” “PISTACHIOS!” 5 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 5 8/29/14 1:59 PM APG AROUND THE WORLD APG Miss California China Tour 2014 Miss California 2013 Crystal Lee toured China to promote America’s amazing green nut as part of the third annual APG Miss California China Tour. Joining Miss California were APG grower ambassadors Gary Robinson and Gary Smith, along with APG Global Marketing Director Judy Hirigoyen and APG Marketing Project Manager for Asia Haiying Zhang. With a mission to promote APG’s commitment to quality, food safety and the health benefits of American pistachios, the tour was filled with in-store appearances, television, newspaper and magazine interviews in the cities of Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou. At the media conferences held by APG, more than 100 media representatives gathered with cameras flashing to interview Miss California and the growers, who answered questions about farming in the USA. Miss California Crystal Lee, who is Chinese and fluent in both Chinese and Mandarin, explained that as Miss California, pistachios are her official snack because they contain many nutrients essential for healthy skin and hair, as well as vitamins, antioxidants and dietary fiber that help keep her body healthy and fit. Other media events included a TV interview with Miss California on Fun Lifestyle, Guangdong’s national television sports channel. Retail promotions were held at four supermarkets to directly promote American-quality, California-grown pistachios to Chinese consumers, who got a once-in-alifetime opportunity to meet and greet Miss California in person while learning about America’s healthy and nutritious pistachios. Miss California and APG growers spent time with customers who packed the stores and eagerly waited to get their hands on American pistachios as well as an autograph and photo with Miss California. The in-store promotions resulted in a 300 to 400 percent increase in sales of APG members’ pistachios. 6 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 6 8/29/14 1:59 PM Baking Seminars in Japan and Korea APG hosted baking seminars in Japan and Korea to showcase the versatility of American pistachios as an ingredient in bakery products. In Japan, seminars were held at Iwase Este and in Tokyo at Shoei Food’s new facility. In Korea, APG partnered with the Korean Bakery Association and Richmond Bakery, the most prestigious bakery school in Korea. More than 400 food professionals from the bakery industry attended the seminars, which were funded by the “Food Professionals in Japan and South Korea” Specialty Crop Block Grant. More than 95 percent of survey participants said they would use or recommend pistachios in their business, as a result of the seminar. American Pistachios Fuel Runners Popular German running guru Achim Achilles believes American pistachios are the ideal snack for runners. To help spread the pistachio message to these athletes, American pistachios were featured on the product-of-themonth page of Achim Achilles’ website (generating more than 563,000 unique users annually), his Facebook page (20,000 fans) and in an article in his newsletter (13,000 subscribers). Achim Achilles is a renowned journalist, runner and “Natural Running” advocate. Based in Berlin, his mission is to educate report and promote the benefits of expanding and strengthening the foot’s natural motion to create better balance, strength and agility. He is also a proponent of proper nutrition for optimal fitness. 7 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 7 8/29/14 1:59 PM APG Jones Snowboard Giveaway: US, UK, France, Germany, Spain and Japan Snowboard and pistachio fans in six countries had an opportunity to participate in APG’s Jones Snowboard Giveaway on Facebook or at Carrefour hypermarkets in France. 2013 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Jones powers his adventures with pistachios. As a strong supporter of active outdoor lifestyles, APG gave away 34 Jones Snowboards during January and February. To promote the contest, 600 APG display bins featuring Jeremy Jones and APG’s grower ambassadors were placed in 250 Carrefour hypermarkets throughout France during January and February. Peel and-reveal promotional labels were applied to 150,000 14-ounce bags of APG members’ pistachios featuring APG’s origin logo. APG Ambassadors at ISPO Munich ISPO Munich is the world’s largest trade fair for sporting goods and sportswear in the world. More than 100 countries, 2,000 exhibitors and 80,000 visitors, including media, consumers and buyers attend the event. APG provided a Summit sponsorship. The Summit is the center of activities where more than 13,000 visitors gathered each day to learn about action sports and nutritional needs for active lifestyles. APG held a sports nutrition discussion with our nutrition Ambassador Nigel Mitchell and athlete Ambassador Jeremy Jones at the Summit. The discussion covered the physical and nutritional demands of snowboarding, the important role nutrition plays in athletics and winter sports in particular and optimization of nutrition. Throughout the talk, pistachios were mentioned as a key dietary choice for active lifestyles. APG’s sponsorship of ISPO’s Summit included APG logo placement throughout the area, press coverage, several APG ads in the tradeshow publication, as well as distribution of pistachio samples to consumers. 8 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 8 8/29/14 1:59 PM APG Spring EU Media Events In Germany, APG invited influential journalists to an exclusive rooftop press event. Media representatives from publications such as Men’s Health, Runner’s World and Shape attended. In London, APG held a media event with Mark Cavendish and his nutritionist Nigel Mitchell just prior to the AMGEN Tour of California and Tour de France. Cavendish answered questions about his training regime, which includes a high-protein diet of whole foods such as pistachios. His nutritionist spoke about sports nutrition and the nutritional value of pistachios. APG’s strategic scheduling of this event rode the wave of media excitement for these two popular races and resulted in more than 180 million impressions in the UK. In Spain, journalists from leading sports, health and fitness magazines attended a media event where APG nutrition Ambassador Dr. Nieves Palacios spoke about the benefits of pistachio consumption for winter sport athletes. The event generated multiple articles, which resulted in more than three million impressions. Dr. Palacios conducted an additional press briefing on the benefits of pistachios for skin and cardiovascular health. Her presentation included a nutritional breakdown of pistachios and their role in skin renewal, hydration and protection. In a radio interview with Spain’s popular radio station AINYM, Dr. Palacios broadcast the powerful pistachio message for health, beauty and fitness to thousands of listeners across Spain. In Italy, APG hosted an exclusive cooking demonstration and sampling for journalists from Italy’s Elle magazine. Chef Nicola Giani prepared three pistachio dishes using American pistachios. The exclusive event scored a twopage article for APG in the March edition of Elle and featured Chef Giani’s pistachio creations. Elle is the world’s largest and best-selling fashion and lifestyle magazine, with a circulation of more than 182,000 consumers. 9 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 9 8/29/14 1:59 PM APG NUTRITION RESEARCH REPORT APG-supported Research In January 2013, the APG nutrition research program supported several papers being published or accepted for publication this summer, along with numerous research presentations. The research focused on the role of pistachios in metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic syndrome. Most recently, researchers from Pennsylvania State University (PSU), in an additional analysis based on their first study (Gebaurer et al. 2008), showed that feeding pistachios at 10% or 20% of daily calories improved a number of indicators of cardiometabolic syndrome. This randomized, controlled study, conducted on 28 healthy adults with elevated blood cholesterol levels, provided subjects with all their food, which made it easier to determine the effects of pistachios. Key messages: Including pistachios in a moderate-fat diet (35%) favorably affects insulin sensitivity and contributes to a beneficial cardiometabolic profile; pistachios, as part of a healthy diet, help lower triglycerides and bad (LDL) cholesterol. Holligan S et al. A moderate-fat diet containing pistachios improves the emerging markers of cardio-metabolic syndrome in healthy adults with elevated LDL levels. British Journal of Nutrition 7/2014. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ S0007114514001561. Published online: 10 July 2014 (PSU). In a second randomized, controlled clinical trial from PSU on 30 people with type 2 diabetes, the researchers found that deriving 20% of their calories from pistachios reduced blood pressure in a similar fashion as in their first study of people with high blood cholesterol. Key message: Pistachios may help reduce blood pressure and biological responses to everyday stress in persons with type 2 diabetes. Sauder K et al. Pistachio consumption modifies systemic hemodynamics, increases heart rate variability, and reduces ambulatory blood pressure in type 2 diabetes. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2014;3:e000873; originally published June 30, 2014; doi:10.1161/JAHA.114.000873 (Pennsylvania State University) At the European Congress on Obesity, Sofia, Bulgaria, in May 2014, Dr. Monica Bulló presented findings from the EPIRDEM Study (effect of pistachio intake on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus). Dr. Bulló’s results were featured in a press conference at the Congress and the news was distributed throughout Europe. The study has now been accepted and published in the highly rated journal, Diabetes Care. Bulló M et al. Beneficial effect of pistachio consumption on glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, inflammation and related metabolic risk markers: The EPIRDEM Study. Accepted Diabetes Care 7/2014 (Spain) (Diabetes Care 2014; 37:1-8/doi:10.2337/dc14-1431). Dietary Guidelines for Americans Draft conclusion statements were reviewed at the Advisory Committee meeting. The following is an excerpt from the Draft Conclusion Statement for Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease: “The committee concurs with the conclusions of the Nutrition Evidence Library Dietary Patterns Systematic Review and AHA/ACC Guidelines that strong and consistent evidence demonstrates that dietary patterns associated with a decreased risk of CVD are characterized by…” (Regular consumption of nuts and legumes and moderate consumption of alcohol are shown to be beneficial in most studies.) DGAC Grade: “Strong evidence.” Proposed Nutrition Label Update On March 3, 2014, the FDA published proposed rules that update the Nutrition Facts label—a revision that has been more than 10 years in the making. The proposed changes are intended to reflect the latest scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. The proposed label also would replace out-of-date serving sizes to better reflect how much people really eat, and it would feature a new design to highlight key parts of the label such as calories and serving sizes. If adopted, some of the key proposed changes in the design of the Nutrition Facts label and serving size follow: • Changing serving sizes to reflect how much people actually eat; however, the serving size remains the same for pistachios/nuts at 30g. Notably, if a bag of pistachios contains between 200% and 400% of the standardized serving size (reference amount customarily consumed; e.g., one ounce), a second column with the amount for the entire bag will be required. 10 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 10 8/29/14 1:59 PM Highlighting calories by increasing the type size and placing the number of calories per serving in bold type. ACP/CPRB UPDATE • Changing “Amount per Serving” to “Amount per ___”, with the blank filled in with the serving size in common household measures (e.g., Amount per 1/4 cup). • Listing the actual amount, in addition to Percent Daily Value, of mandatory vitamins and minerals and, when declared, voluntary vitamins and minerals. • Require labeling of “added sugars.” There is little reason to rehash the growing conditions of the 2014 crop – low precipitation, inadequate water supplies, low chill, erratic bloom, warmer than usual summer. All of this has led to predictions of an earlier than usual harvest, with harvest of the early maturing varieties in some areas beginning a week before Labor Day. Predictions for crop quality range from normal to bad due to high levels of blanking and a high closed shell percentage. • Require manufacturers to declare the amount of potassium and Vitamin D on the label because they are new “nutrients of public health significance.” Calcium and iron would continue to be required, and Vitamins A and C could be included on a voluntary basis. • Remove “Calories from Fat,” but still require “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat” and “Trans Fat” on the label. The type of fat is more important than the amount. • Update Daily Values for nutrients such as sodium, dietary fiber and Vitamin D. These changes in Daily Values will affect the nutrient content claims that can be made on food products. • Key Points: The final rule proposed by the FDA to update the Nutrition Facts label for pistachios will likely be published in one to two years (2015/2016), with the compliance date two years later (2017/2018). The soonest manufacturers can start using the new format is on the effective date, which will be 60 days after publication of the final rule (2015/2016). Dr. Bob Klein, ACP and CPRB Manager Growers could be tempted to delay harvest with the hope of achieving higher split percentages, but this may be courting disaster due to the effects of warm weather on navel orangeworm (NOW) populations. NOW populations are high according to monitoring data collected by Dr. Joel Siegel (USDA-ARS, Parlier), and the potential for NOW damage is tracking between 2012 (an okay year) and 2013 (high levels). Growers delaying harvest could easily lose more in insect damage than they gain in split percentage. NOW control is challenging, with difficulties interpreting monitoring data, selecting thresholds to initiate spraying, covering an entire operation in a short window of time (preferably <7 days!), possible insecticide resistance, a range of alternate chemistries, and divergent strategies. However, no one disagrees on the importance of winter sanitation of mummies. Harvest will be over by midOctober, and it is not too early to start thinking of this critical aspect of NOW control. The erratic and poor performance of some clonal UCB-1 rootstock has been a red-button topic of concern among growers, especially those contemplating expanding their production. While we had hoped to have some clarity about the situation by now, this has not yet happened. Researchers continue to look at potential genetic mutations, as well as potential pathogens; neither hypothesis has been ruled out. The California Pistachio Research Board has funded a project looking at a potential pathogenic cause, but final results are not expected for two or more years. Best wishes for a smooth and stress-free harvest! 11 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 11 8/29/14 1:59 PM 12 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 12 8/29/14 2:00 PM Fourth Annual APG Regional Grower Meetings Growers from throughout California gathered in late spring for APG Regional Grower Meetings in Sacramento (CA Farm Bureau), Madera (Madera Municipal Golf Club), Coalinga (Harris Ranch) and Bakersfield (Benji’s Basque Restaurant). APG Board, Membership Committee and staff members were in attendance at all of the gatherings conducted in April and May to answer questions, lend support and visit with friends during meals that included APG program presentations. These informal small group settings always encourage an open exchange of ideas unique to the American Pistachio Growers’ organization. Along with our July 25 Annual Membership Luncheon, the regional meetings were successful in adding to the APG membership roster, while informing participants and allowing APG to show appreciation for ongoing member support. APG Executive Director Richard Matoian outlined statistical crop information and shared government affairs updates. An overview of current and future APG marketing strategies and programs was provided by APG Marketing Director Judy Hirigoyen and included presentations led by Marketing Project Managers Rebecca Hall, Kathleen Kissee and Haiying Zhang. The APG regional meetings were implemented in 2011 to accommodate growers unable to attend the Annual Conference, Membership Luncheon or open Board meetings. The gatherings serve to update valued current members and allow sharing of ideas and concerns. They also provide more opportunities for nonmembers to hear about APG and understand the importance of supporting this unique industry organization. Due to very positive results and feedback, the meetings have now become an annual tradition that will continue in 2015. 13 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 13 8/29/14 2:00 PM Protecting your net income is the goal of American Pistachio Growers, and with a forecasted doubling of the crop expected in the near future, the time is now to consider the importance of membership. Ensuring there will always be viable suppliers of American-grown pistachios in global markets may be one of the most important reasons to join, but so is nutrition research, global promotion, grower education, removing unfair tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and creating tomorrow’s leaders from today’s growers. With investment from our growers and our processors, this brand is owned by its members. Protect your future. Protect your brand. Join the proud members of American Pistachio Growers. AmericanPistachios.org 559.475.0435 14 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 14 APG Brand Ad_Farm Press Magazine_Dec. 2013_FP_10.875” x 13.75” Trim_.125” [email protected] 8/29/14 2:00 PM An APG membership form is printed on the reverse of this page and available online at AmericanPistachios.org. Please call or email if you have questions, are not sure if you are a current member, or would like to receive more information. 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 15 15 8/29/14 2:00 PM 16 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 16 8/29/14 2:00 PM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS REPORT Schramm, Williams & Associates, Inc. Serious staff level efforts are being pursued quietly, and little information has been made public at this time. If nothing is enacted in September, the next chance will be the Lame Duck session in November-December. APG is working closely with California’s House and Senate delegation on the drought legislation. Iran Congress The deadline for the interim agreement to reach a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program was July 20. The negotiating countries agreed to an extension of the negotiations until November, as the July deadline was not met. If and when the governments reach an agreement, APG will have to defend its antidumping order in a Sunset Review before the U.S. International Trade Commission. APG’s representatives are monitoring Congressional, Administration and NGO briefings on the negotiations. American Pistachio Growers’ Congressional representation recently became even stronger after the House Republican Conference elected Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Bakersfield, the new Majority Leader. The Congressman is no stranger to APG. He has more pistachio acreage in his congressional district than any other. Over many years, APG has worked with Congressman McCarthy to reach APG members’ objectives. Immigration APG’s PAC continues to be one of the strongest specialty crop PACs. During its 25 years of existence, APG’s PAC has identified Congressional leaders; one such leader is Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX), who is the top candidate to become the next Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. Congressman Conaway was the featured speaker at the PAC Breakfast during the 2013 Annual Conference in San Diego, where more than 125 APG members heard his position on the 2013 Farm Bill’s benefits for the U.S. pistachio industry. Federal Tax Reform Federal California Drought Legislation The drought legislation introduced by Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) was adopted by the House in February and is significantly different from what Senator Dianne Feinstein proposed. The Senate and House legislation on drought relief are significantly different in scope and content. Senator Feinstein was able to move her Drought Relief legislation through the U.S. Senate on the last day of Senate session in May, before the Senate left Washington, DC for the traditional Memorial Day recess. Senator Feinstein had to remove the provisions regarding financial assistance that had been included in the two prior versions of this bill in order to get the support to move the bill through the Senate. 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 17 In a meeting with President Obama, Speaker John Boehner said that the U.S. House of Representatives will not vote on immigration reform this year. Immigration reform will have to wait until the next Congress, which means the Senate will have to introduce and pass another bill. APG continues to closely monitor immigration reform. Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means, released his draft Tax Reform Act of 2014 (“TRA”), but did not introduce the bill. The existing tax provisions supported by American Pistachio Growers that were not included in the proposal for repeal are cash accounting and IC Domestic International Sales Corporations (IC DISC). Included in the proposal, however, is the repeal of income averaging for farmers and the requirement for certain types of fertilizer to be capitalized. Additionally, the corporate maximum tax rate would be reduced from 35 to 25 percent. Tax Extenders The Senate Committee on Finance reported out of committee the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency Act (EXPIRE) that included Section 179 and the 50 percent bonus depreciation legislation, but the Senate failed to pass the legislation. These provisions expired in 2013 and are of importance to the U.S. pistachio industry. The House voted favorably on the Section 179 expensing provision and the 50 percent bonus depreciation, which includes bonus depreciation for trees and vines. Political leaders predict the Tax Extenders of importance to the pistachio industry will be passed after the November 2014 elections. Any tax reform legislation has a questionable future. 17 8/29/14 2:00 PM APG regularly attends briefings on taxes to stay informed of developments on tax reform and visits the appropriate Congressional tax offices to discuss how the tax proposals will impact APG’s membership. Farm Bill Implementation The USDA continues to implement the 2014 Farm Bill law that amends several programs of interest to APG. The programs include the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development, Specialty Crop State Block Grants (For FY 2013 California was awarded $18.2 million; Arizona was awarded $1.3 million, and New Mexico was awarded $429,210), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops, Emerging Market Program, Specialty Crop Research Initiative, and Value Added Producer Grants. APG will continue to track the progress of these programs and file comments when it is appropriate. Appropriations Appropriations’ bills are an annual legislative battle in Congress. Currently, the House has voted upon and assed seven of the twelve appropriations bills. Earlier in the summer, the House took up the Agriculture Appropriations bill, which funds USDA and FDA, but did not finish consideration of the bill. The Senate has yet to bring any appropriations bills to the floor for consideration. The authorization for funding the government for FY 2014 will expire on September 30, 2014. If Congress does not pass into law spending measures for FY 2015, they will be forced to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) which will continue to fund the government at the same levels as the prior law enacted or shut the government down. Following the election, the Lame Duck session will most likely include passage of the appropriations’ bills in some manner. APG is working with several Congressional offices to protect farm bill programs that benefit the pistachio industry. Food Safety Modernization Act The FDA continues to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). APG has responded to the FDA’s request for comments when appropriate. APG recently submitted comments to the FDA on the Draft Approach for the High Risk Designation of Foods. The statute requires the FDA to establish a list of foods that are considered high risk that would consequently be required to maintain records based on the high-risk designation. The FDA has indicated they will publish a second draft of the Produce Safety and Preventative Controls proposed rules; to date, these revisions have not yet been published. The revised proposed Produce Safety water regulation is stalled in the Office of Management and Budget. When these proposed rules are published, APG plans to comment upon the changes on behalf of its members. Administrative Committee for Pistachios APG sent a letter to USDA urging Secretary Vilsack to approve the sampling of pistachios by mechanical sampling. The proposal was approved by the Secretary in July. Pesticides Each month, APG publishes the Federal and State Pesticide Matters newsletter to update our members on recent federal and state regulations regarding pesticides. For additional information on the content below, please refer to the monthly reports. April 2014 • Denial of Section 3 Registration for DuPont Treoris Fungicide May 2014 • EPA Establishes Pesticide Tolerances for Cyflumetofen (Nealta) • Petitions to Establish Metconazole (Quash) Residue Tolerances • Novel 0.5% SC Fungicide (Polyoxin D + Zinc Salt) Section 3 Registration June 2014 LBG-61 (Potassium Phosphite + Tebuconazole) Section 3 Registration • Codex Pesticide Committee Update The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues met in Nanjing, China in May 2014 to continue work on Codex pesticide matters. It continues to work toward finalizing crop groupings. The next meeting of the Committee is tentatively scheduled for April 2015 in China. EC Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) Since July 2013, the EC RASFF has reported thirteen rejections for U.S. pistachios exceeding the aflatoxin limit and one rejection for exceeding the insect standard. One notification was for U.S. pistachios via the Islamic Republic of Iran; the insect shipment was reported by Poland. APG is working with U.S. and EC officials to ensure that pistachios continue to enter the EU without incident. 18 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 18 8/29/14 2:00 PM Advances in Pistachio Production Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade negotiations among the 12 countries participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership began in December 2010. While the agreement was planned to be negotiated quickly, the agreement enters its fourth year this coming December. APG’s goal is removal of Vietnam’s tariff on pistachios. Talks have been delayed by market access issues with Japan. University of California research based information on all aspects of pistachio production November 18–20, 2014 • Visalia Convention Center Advances in Pistachio Production is a comprehensive course taught by University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisors, specialists, and faculty. This course provides an opportunity for growers and orchard managers to learn about the latest research and production recommendations for California pistachio. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership On July 12, the United States and the 28 members of the European Union held their sixth negotiation session. Prior to its start, both U.S. and EU negotiators agreed draft text for the agreement would start to be formulated during the next session. Trade officials have indicated progress is moving at a good rate. A final agrement is not expected before the latter part of 2015. Tariffs on pistachios are expected to be removed. Several new additions are available to course participants this year: New collection of reference materials: • Pistachio Production Manual (first update in 7 years) • Bound copy of all presentations • Nutrient Deficiency in Pistachio booklet • Electronic resources on physiological, nutritional, and pathological disorders and insect pests APG closely monitors the development of the trade talks and submits comments when appropriate. New lectures: Step-by-step guide to field diagnostics Tree health and irrigation under saline conditions Analysis of the global industry: Looking ahead Understanding your grade sheet • • • • U.S. Pistachio Exports - Crop Years 2009-2014 IN METRIC TONS Year Jan Feb Mar AprMay Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total 2009-2010 8,793 6,850 8,984 7,235 8,659 12,465 15,202 9,767 8,857 8,762 7,024 6,205 108,803 Pistachios Raw 2010-2011 5,607 5,174 4,141 2,88412,53815,505 16,941 6,982 6,909 7,153 7,386 7,775 98,995 2011-2012 6,786 8,840 7,918 8,39013,67514,648 9,173 9,783 9,499 12,648 11,99810,564 123,922 Inshell & Shelled 2012-2013 7,799 8,664 7,886 5,25916,795 21,988 17,117 2013-2014 5,898 6,921 11,23311,29818,31325,00814,025 6,431 6,550 8,952 8,913 9,623 133,165 2009-2010 989 839 1,025 7672,226 2,262 2,091 1,521 1,011 1,328 1,522 908 16,489 2010-20111,325 965 1,066 8852,4843,466 3,023 2,003 1,238 1,630 1,665 1,620 21,370 Pistachios Roasted 7,172 10,940 10,017 9,380 5,704 128,721 2011-20121,5572,286 2,270 1,3642,747 2,820 2,436 1,593 1,200 1,676 1,430 2,242 23,621 2012-20132,3492,047 2,000 1,7302,946 3,529 3,039 2,594 2,172 1,9832,250 2,157 28,796 2013-20142,0252,264 2,491 2,7353,7325,4663,504 2,661 2,648 3,421 2,224 1,872 35,043 2009-2010 9,782 7,689 10,009 8,00210,885 14,727 17,293 11,288 9,868 10,090 8,546 7,113 125,292 2010-2011 6,932 6,139 5,207 3,76915,02218,97119,964 8,985 8,147 8,782 9,051 9,396 120,365 Total 2011-2012 8,343 11,126 10,189 9,75416,422 17,468 11,609 11,375 10,698 14,325 13,42712,806 147,542 2012-201310,14710,711 9,887 6,98919,74125,51720,156 9,766 13,112 12,00011,629 7,861 157,516 2013-2014 7,922 9,185 13,723 14,03222,046 30,474 17,529 9,092 9,198 12,373 11,137 11,495 168,206 Prepared by Schramm, Williams Associates, Inc. using data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. 19 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 19 8/29/14 2:00 PM 9 River Park Place East, Suite 410 7030 N. California Fruit Avenue, Suite 117 Fresno, 93720-1530 California Tel: Fresno, 559.475.0435 Fax:93711-0782 559.475.0624 Tel: 559.475.0435 Fax: 559.475.0624 [email protected] [email protected] AmericanPistachios.org AmericanPistachios.org 2014 Board of Directors THOMAS DILLE CHAIRMAN 2011-2012 Board of Directors JIMI VALOV VICE CHAIRMAN Gary Smith LARRY LOWDER TREASURER/SECRETARY Jim Zion Chairman Vice Chairman JEREMY BLACKWELL CALIFORNIA Larry Lowder MIA COHEN CALIFORNIA Treasurer/Secretary ADAM KUSMAK NEW MEXICO LAWRENCE EASTERLING CALIFORNIA NEW MEXICO ROBERT LAKE CALIFORNIA H.P. Anderson, III STEVEN MOORE CALIFORNIAStephen Seplak CALIFORNIA ADAM ORANDI CALIFORNIA ARIZONA Brian Blackwell RICHARD PASLAY CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA GEORGE SCHWEERS NEW Gary MEXICOSmith Mia Cohen STEPHEN SEPLAK ARIZONACALIFORNIA GARY SMITH CALIFORNIA Jimi Valov CALIFORNIA ANIL K. GUPTA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA Jeff Curry BRIAN WATTE CALIFORNIA Brian Watte CALIFORNIA MICHAEL WOOLF CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA Thomas Dille JIM ZION CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA Board Member Emeriti Dr. Michael Woolf CALIFORNIA BRIAN BLACKWELL Board Member Emeritus CALIFORNIA APG Staff Dr. John Lake Lawrence Easterling, H.P. ANDERSON III Jr. DR. Robert JOHN LAKE Dr. Lake CALIFORNIA Steven Moore CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA Executive Director Judy Hirigoyen Catherine Byrnes CALIFORNIA Director, Member Services George Schweers and Communications Rebecca Hall Richard Matoian Richard Paslay Karen Gross APG Staff Accountant Dianna Short Richard Matoian Executive Assistant Executive Director Catherine Byrnes Jessica Garrison Marketing Admin Asst Director, Member Services and Communications Jennifer Jones Receptionist/Admin Karen Gross Asst COURTESY NONMEMBER COPY JOIN APG TODAY! Director, Global Marketing Marketing Project Manager Kathleen Kissee Marketing Project Manager Judy Hirigoyen Haiying Zhang Director, Global Marketing Marketing Project Manager Rebecca Hall Genaro Gonzales Marketing Project Manager Digital Content Manager Dianna Short Peter VlazakisAssistant Administrative Export Market Coordinator Accountant Calendar Kernels APG Board Meeting November 12, 2014 Fresno APG Office American Pistachio Growers Advances in Pistachio Production Annual Membership Luncheon November 18-20, 2014 Summer 2011 - TBA Visalia Convention Center Calendar Kernels UCCE Statewide Pistachio Day American Pistachio Industry Conference January 2015 2012 February21,20-22, Visalia Convention Center San Diego, California American Pistachio Industry Conference February 16-18, 2015 Paradise Point Resort - San Diego, CA 61004_r1_Newsletter - Final_VP.indd 20 Printed on Recycled Paper 8/29/14 2:00 PM