It’s that time again. California almond growers are being asked to vote whether to continue funding the Almond Board of California. These votes take place every five years.

U.S. almond growers should expect to receive ballots in the mail, asking them if they wish to continue funding their federal marketing order known commonly as the Almond Board of California. Those ballots must be returned between Dec. 4 and Dec. 20.

The referendum asks, by yes or no vote, whether to continue the marketing order. No changes to the order are being proposed.

California almond farmers are assessed three cents per pound to fund the work of the almond board. Much of that funding is used to promote the sale of U.S. almonds domestically and abroad. These promotions are non-branded, generic efforts to build demand for U.S. almonds. These marketing efforts are outside of what branded companies do to sell their products.

Ballots are being sent out by the Agricultural Marketing Service, along with voting instructions, to all growers on record provided by California almond handlers. Farmers will have the option to vote by electronic ballot, according to the Almond Board of California.

These referendum votes are a common occurrence that farmers should be fully accustomed to. The decision to continue funding the marketing order is important as it determines whether the non-branded marketing efforts of the almond board will continue.

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According to the referendum notice in the Federal Register, the USDA would consider termination of the marketing order if support for the marketing order fell below two-thirds approval.

California almond farmers have a track record of favoring the almond board through its assessment. In the last two referendum votes, over 90% of the eligible farmers voted, representing nearly all the state’s almond volume. In those votes over 90% of those voting elected to continue funding the board’s activities.

The almond board’s website provides a host of information, including monthly reports on domestic and international shipments. The latest report from October reveals that shipments of the crop just harvested have already totaled more than 640 million pounds on marketable crop receipts of just over 1.8 million pounds. The industry carried in just over 502 million pounds of unsold almonds from the previous crop year, which ended July 31. That is the smallest carry-in the industry has seen in several years.

Farmers with questions about the referendum process, or who have not received ballots by Dec. 4, should contact Peter Sommers, marketing specialist, or Abigail Maharaj, branch chief, at: West Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102-B, Fresno, California, 93721-3129, or by calling (559) 487-5901. Sommers can also be reached at [email protected]. Maharaj can be reached also at [email protected].

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