Blue Diamond reports record sales

Blue Diamond Growers reported record sales of $1.64 billion in the fiscal year ending Aug. 28, another sign of the almond industry’s strength.

The cooperative also reported $1.18 billion in payments to the growers who own and supply it, another record high. The numbers, released at Blue Diamond’s 105th annual meeting in Modesto this week, compare with the previous year’s sales of $1.5 billion and grower payments of $1 billion.

The company, the world’s largest almond processor, has plants at its headquarters in Sacramento and in Salida and Turlock.

Elsewhere on the Farm Beat:

Dairy products will flow down the streets of Pasadena on New Year’s Day, on a float created by an industry group in Modesto.

The California Milk Advisory Board announced that it will take part in the 127th annual Tournament of Roses. It will feature the flowers that are traditional for the parade, as well as big images of a milk bottle, a buttered baked potato, a pizza, a grilled cheese sandwich and a banana split.

It is the first time in the parade for the milk board, which has offices in Modesto and South San Francisco. The nationally televised event will draw attention to an industry that added $21 billion in value to the state’s economy last year, according to the board.

Speaking of holidays, the cost of a typical Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $50.11 this year, up 70 cents from 2014, the American Farm Bureau Federation reported.

For 30 years, it has sent surveyors into stores to sample average prices for 10 items. They look for a 16-pound turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk to drink.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are able to provide a bounty of food for a classic Thanksgiving dinner that many of us look forward to all year,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist, in a news release. “We are fortunate to be able to provide a special holiday meal for 10 people for just over $5 per serving.”

The Northern San Joaquin Valley produces sizable volumes of turkey, dairy products and sweet potatoes. And wine, which is not on the surveyors’ shopping list.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Blue Diamond reports record sales."