The Almond Board of California has announced that Clarice Turner, the current President of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, will be the next president and CEO of the organization, succeeding the retiring Richard Waycott.
Driving the news: The Almond Board is a Modesto-based organization that supports California’s third-highest-grossing farm product by promoting export and researching growing practices and customer trends.
- Turner will be joining the organization in September while Waycott will remain available until December to help with the transition.
- The California almond industry has been struggling with low prices in recent years that were compounded by tariffs and pandemic-related shipping backlogs, despite growing 80% of the world’s almonds, which generated around $5.03 billion in gross income in 2021.
- Research sponsored by the Almond Board in recent decades found almonds to be healthy sources of fat and protein and worked on behalf of pollinating bees and fighting against climate change.
What they’re saying: Clarice Turner brings extensive knowledge and experience that’s believed to be of great benefit to the organization and the industry, according to Chairwoman Alexi Rodriguez, who’s also a grower and processor in Fresno County.
- “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine my California heritage, roots in generational farming and executive experience to build on the strong foundation established in 1950,” said Turner in the release.
