California Ag Network

Tag: Almond Alliance of California

  • Resources for Employers Amidst COVID-19 Outbreaks at Ag Facilities

    Almond Alliance of California – There have been multiple COVID-19 outbreaks at agricultural facilities and operations throughout the State.  Several of the outbreaks in agricultural areas have been reported in farmworker housing facilities, fields and processing facilities.  CalOSHA, Department of Health Services and the Attorney General’s office have been engaged in situations with multiple positive cases.  Many of our peer agricultural organizations and individual employers have received letters from the Attorney General’s office reminding about the need to provide guidance to our membership on the health and safety of the agricultural workforce.

    Many grower and employer associations, local farm bureaus, and health and safety compliance businesses have shared resources with their members to help agricultural operations conduct an examination of workplaces to ensure that adequate measures are being undertaken to protect the health and safety of agricultural workers.

    Below are resources for almond growers, huller shellers and processors.  As these materials are updated, the Almond Alliance will distribute revisions. Please post COVID-19 safety materials in Spanish and English throughout the workplace.  Please call the Almond Alliance team if you have any questions or need additional information.   

    Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace:

    This guidance and checklist are for use by employers experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 in their workplace. Employers should be proactive and keep in mind that identification of even a single positive case among employees may quickly develop into an outbreak. As outbreak circumstances and work practices vary, employers may need assistance from their local health department (LHD) to plan and coordinate a response to the outbreak that meets the needs of the workplace.

    • Industry Guidance:  Agriculture and Livestock: Click Here.
    • COVID-19 General Checklist for Agriculture and Livestock Employers: Click Here.

    COVID-19 Safety Posters and Materials for you to Place in the Workplace in English and Spanish to Reduce the Risk of Employee Exposure in the Workplace:

    • CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) English Poster: Click Here.
    • CDC Síntomas del coronavirus (COVID-19) Spanish Poster: Click Here.
    • CDC Share facts about COVID-19 English Factsheet: Click Here.
    • CDC Comparta la información sobre el COVID-19 Spanish Factsheet: Click Here.
    • OSHA Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus English Poster: Click Here.
    • OSHA Diez Medidas que Todos los Lugares de Trabajo Pueden Tomar para Prevenir la Exposición al Coronavirus Spanish Poster: Click Here.

    Cal/OSHA Guidance and Resources:

    • COVID-19 Daily Checklist for Agricultural Employers: English | Spanish
    • COVID-19 General Checklist for Agricultural Employers: English | Spanish
    • Infection Prevention for Agricultural Employers and Employees: English | Spanish
    • COVID-19 Worker Protection Video – Infection Prevention for Agricultural Workers (Video Transcripts:  English | Spanish | Mixteco

    What to Do if You Have COVID-19 Confirmed Positive or Exposed Workers:

    This document recommends a consistent approach in how a company can continue operations in the event an individual has tested positive, given the global COVID-19 pandemic and high transmissibility of this respiratory virus from person to person.

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):  What to Do if You Have COVID-19 Confirmed Positive or Exposed Workers in Your Food Production, Storage, or Distribution Operations Regulated by FDA: Click Here.

    Food Industry Recommended Protocols When Employee/Customer Tests Positive for COVID-19:

    This summary, derived from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, outlines key steps that employers and workers can take to help stay open, prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19, and support continuity of essential operations if workers are diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19, or show symptoms associated with COVID-19: Click Here.

    Additional Materials:

    • Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan: Click Here.
    • Testing Strategy for Coronavirus (COVID‐19) in High‐Density Critical Infrastructure Workplaces after a COVID‐19 Case is Identified: Click Here.

    Note: This document is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Almond Alliance of California does not advise on the application of law to an individual’s or company’s specific circumstances. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.

  • Often Overlooked Legal Employee Reimbursement Requirements (Farm Liability Series Part 3 of 3)

     

    Farmers are some of the best people on the planet.  They work hard and do their very best to keep food on the table in homes all over the world.  Like anyone though, sometimes they make mistakes too and can overlook some of the ever-changing laws and requirements for their farm employees, and end up in court over violations that could have been prevented.  To keep farmers out of the court room, we have put together a series of three videos with simple tips and employee requirements featuring Ag Attorney Stacy Henderson, as shared in her presentation earlier this year at the annual Convention of the Almond Alliance of California.  Watch these brief videos to help reduce liabilities on the farm and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at the following November Events: Tree & Vine Expo, the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo & Blue Diamond Growers Annual Membership Meeting.

  • Black Soldier Fly to Support Almond Industry

    With a growing almond industry and an increasing supply of coproducts, such as hulls and shells, researchers are searching for new and resourceful ways of utilizing the extra material as an asset.  Breaking these coproducts down to a form that may be utilized back in the soil or as a feed supplement has been a challenge in the past; but this may all change with the introduction of a new helpful fly on the block.  Watch this brief interview with Eric Tilton from Hermetia Pro Inc. regarding this Black Soldier Fly, and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at the following November Events: Tree & Vine Expo, the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo & Blue Diamond Growers Annual Membership Meeting.

  • Legal Care for Injured Farm Employees (Farm Liability Series Part 2 of 3)

     

    Farmers are some of the best people on the planet.  They work hard and do their very best to keep food on the table in homes all over the world.  Like anyone though, sometimes they make mistakes too and can overlook some of the ever-changing laws and requirements for their farm employees, and end up in court over violations that could have been prevented.  To keep farmers out of the court room, we have put together a series of three videos with simple tips and employee requirements featuring Ag Attorney Stacy Henderson, as shared in her presentation earlier this year at the annual Convention of the Almond Alliance of California.  Watch these brief videos to help reduce liabilities on the farm and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at the following November Events: Tree & Vine Expo, the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo & Blue Diamond Growers Annual Membership Meeting.

  • Employee Meal & Rest Period Violation Prevention(Farm Liability Series Part 1 of 3)

    Farmers are some of the best people on the planet.  They work hard and do their very best to keep food on the table in homes all over the world.  Like anyone though, sometimes they make mistakes too and can overlook some of the ever-changing laws and requirements for their farm employees, and end up in court over violations that could have been prevented.  To keep farmers out of the court room, we have put together a series of three videos with simple tips and employee requirements featuring Ag Attorney Stacy Henderson, as shared in her presentation earlier this year at the annual Convention of the Almond Alliance of California.  Watch these brief videos to help reduce liabilities on the farm and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support by visiting them at their booth at the following November Events: Tree & Vine Expo, the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo & Blue Diamond Growers Annual Membership Meeting.

  • Farmer Member on CA Water Resources Control Board Urges Farmers

    Although the California Water Resources Control Board may not be terribly popular amidst local farming communities due to recent actions that have not been in the best interests of agriculture, what you may not know is that there are farmers that sit on this board, including Dorene D’Adamo.  Watch this brief interview with Dorene as she explains that it will take much more that a couple farming board members to make a difference in water issues today.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.

  • Current Status of CA Groundwater Sustainability Agencies – Deadline Approaching

    The California State Water Resources Control Board is getting ready to crack down on farmers for their increased use of groundwater unless their local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies can come up with a sustainable plan that will not overdraft local groundwater resources.  Watch this brief interview with Taryn Ravazzini from the California Department of Water Resources as she shares a progress report of this local GSAs at work.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.

  • Turlock Irrigation District Pursues Settlement Agreement with State Water Board

    As farmers well know, the actions of California Water Resources Control Board don’t often reflect the best interests of the farming community, and the recent Bay Delta Plan they are proposing is going to have a devastating impact if enacted.  Watch this brief interview with Michael Frantz from the Turlock Irrigation District as he shares what farmers can do about this in the form of a settlement agreement.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.

  • Increase of Early Almond Varieties Demands Evolution in the Industry

    One of the main concerns with recent almond acreage trends is in the exponential growth of earlier harvesting varieties and how the how that will impact early stockpiling at hulling and processing facilities.  Growers obviously want to harvest their crops as soon as possible, but Navel Orangeworm damage doesn’t stop as soon as the nuts leave the orchard.  Watch this brief video with Martin Pohl from Hughson Nut as he explains the situation and need for the almond industry to evolve with the trends.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Considerations for Determining Which Almond Varieties to Plant

    As growers, both new and experienced, continued to add to the record almond acreage in California, many are constantly evaluating what varieties to plant.  With many new varieties on the market and consumer trends continuing to evolve, there is a lot to consider in variety selection.  Check out this brief interview with Martin Pohl from Hughson Nut Company as he shares his insights from a processor’s perspective.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.