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Blue Diamond Growers’ Salida Facility Receives Prestigious “Star Site” Designation from Cal/OSHA

The Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children has been revised to include almond products as a food option.

Key Takeaways:

  • Blue Diamond Growers’ Salida facility has been awarded the “Star Site” designation by Cal/OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
  • The recognition is given to employers with exceptional safety and health programs and is shared by only 63 sites in California.
  • Blue Diamond’s Salida facility has injury and illness rates 90% below industry average over the past three years.
  • The achievement underscores the cooperative’s commitment to team member-led safety initiatives.

Blue Diamond’s Salida Facility Awarded “Star Site” Designation for Safety Excellence

Blue Diamond Growers, a farmer-owned cooperative and the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, recently earned the prestigious “Star Site” designation at its Salida facility. The recognition comes from Cal/OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), which acknowledges employers who voluntarily implement and maintain outstanding safety and health programs. Blue Diamond joins a select group of only 63 sites in California with this designation.

Rigorous Safety Standards Lead to Achievement

Blue Diamond began the formal application process for the “Star Site” designation in 2023. The process involved a thorough review of the Salida facility’s safety programs, including audits, interviews, and an evaluation of safety performance. To qualify, the facility demonstrated that its injury and illness rates (DART and TCIR) over the past three years were 90% lower than the industry average.

“Through our partnership with Cal/OSHA, we have elevated our safety program from best-in-class to world-class,” said Victor Gomez Terres, Blue Diamond Site Director of Salida. “Safety at Blue Diamond is team member-led, and this designation is a culmination of their incredible effort and commitment to keeping themselves and each other safe.”

A Legacy of Excellence in Almond Processing

Blue Diamond’s Salida facility, the largest almond receiving center in the world, has played a pivotal role in the cooperative’s operations since 1969. With eight warehouses and multiple processing lines, millions of pounds of almonds are received and shipped daily. The cooperative’s ability to deliver high-quality almonds globally relies on its commitment to the health and safety of the 1,600 team members working at the site.

“Blue Diamond’s success as the world’s largest almond company hinges on the safety of our operations and the wellbeing of our team members,” said Jeff Hatfield, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Blue Diamond. “I am proud that this milestone achievement validates our commitment to safety culture.”


Blue Diamond Growers Latest News

Launches 2nd Year of $45M Climate Smart Commodities Grant (2024/05/14)

Blue Diamond Growers, a leading almond marketer and processor, has started enrolling in its second year of the $45 million Climate Smart Commodities Grant, funded by the USDA. The grant aims to help farmers adopt climate-smart agricultural practices for sustainability. In its first year, the cooperative planted over 17,000 acres of almond orchards and established over 100 conservation covers.

Blue Diamond’s Statement on WIC’s Food Package Revision (2024/04/15)

Blue Diamond Growers has endorsed the recent updates to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which now includes almond products as qualified food packages. The change aligns with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and promotes nutrition security. Almonds offer essential nutrients and including plant-based almond milk provides an alternative for those with dairy and soy allergies. Blue Diamond supports the USDA’s efforts to revise the WIC food packages.

Welcomes USDA’s New Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (2024/10/24)

Blue Diamond Growers, a leading almond cooperative owned by growers, has supported the United States Department of Agriculture‘s (USDA) newly launched Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). The program is designed to provide essential investment in U.S. agricultural export promotion initiatives, focusing on benefiting California’s almond industry. California exports almost 70% of its almonds globally. The RAPP initiative helps almond growers in California, who are struggling with high production costs. Blue Diamond Growers, a leading cooperative, has been promoting exports for over 100 years and believes that programs like RAPP are essential for sustaining the almond industry. With additional funding, Blue Diamond aims to further strengthen its efforts, driving higher returns and growth for the entire industry. The USDA’s funding has positively impacted the U.S. almond industry over the years, and Blue Diamond appreciates its continued support.

Launches USDA Grant Program to Promote Climate-Smart Practices (2023/07/21)

Blue Diamond Growers, an almond-growing cooperative consisting of 3,000 grower-owners, recently initiated its USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant Program. The initiative signifies a significant stride toward implementing climate-smart practices in almond orchards across the United States.

Photo by Crispin Jones on Unsplash

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