Almond Journey
This show explores how almond growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the industry forward.
Host Tim Hammerich is visiting with almond leaders throughout California who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.
Hearing the voices of these industry leaders might spark a connection or idea you can use in your own journey. That’s why we want to feature these stories of innovation, resilience, and community.
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 18 minutes
- Episodes
- 143
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Episode 22: Fertilizer Strategies with Devin Clarke
Devin Clarke has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to crop fertility, and is conducting some interesting trials at YARA’s Incubator Farm. The farm consists of 40 acres that they lease from an almon…
Episode 21: Transportation Challenges with Darren Rigg
Darren Rigg is a field buyer and sales representative for Minturn Nut Company and a member of the Almond Board of California Board of Directors. Rigg, like other handlers in the industry, sees first…
Episode 20: New Orchard Ideas and Funding Sources with Alec Earle
In this episode we visit with almond grower and retired Air Force officer Alec Earle. Alec and his wife each spent over 30 years in the Air Force, first in active duty then civil service. In 2014, th…
Episode 19: Sharing Your Story on National Almond Day With Jenny Holtermann
This National Almond Day episode travels down to Shafter, California to chat with 4th generation California farmer Jenny Holtermann, who some of you might know from her online presence as Almond Girl…
Episode 18: Evaluating and Adapting Your Integrated Pest Management Program with Justin Nay
In today’s episode, independent PCA and crop consultant, Justin Nay, shares advice and experience for your almond orchard’s integrated pest management program. Justin’s company, Integral Ag Incorpora…
Episode 17: The Agronomics and Economics of Whole Orchard Recycling and Cover Crops with Carl Evers and Jeremy Olday of AgIS Capital
In today’s episode we visit with Carl Evers and Jeremy Olday of AgIS Capital. AgIS Capital is an employee-owned management firm that invests in farmland on behalf of and alongside their investors. Ag…
Episode 16: Orchard Experiments and Lessons from a Field Representative with Donny Hicks
In this episode we visit with almond grower and Hughson Nut Field Representative Donny Hicks. Donny manages a small 18-acre orchard, which helps him keep a grower’s perspective in everything he does.…
Episode 15: Fertilizer, Farming, and the Almond Leadership Program with Kyle McClintock
In this episode we visit with Kyle McClintock. Kyle is the vice president and general manager of San Joaquin Fertilizer. He is also an almond grower at IB Farming, his family’s farming operation. On …
Episode 14: Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry with Bret Sill
Today’s episode takes us to Bakersfield, California, where we talk to Bret Sill who you heard from on episode 008. We’re revisiting Bret for a bit of a different story on today’s podcast, one that’s …
Episode 13: Investments in Nutrition Research with George Goshgarian
Today’s episode introduces us to George Goshgarian. George is an almond grower and also the chairman of the Almond Board of California’s Nutrition Research Committee. We unpack the important role nut…
Episode 12: New Approaches to Pest Management and Irrigation with Leon Etchepare
Today’s episode takes us to Maxwell, California, about halfway between Sacramento and Redding. We meet 4th generation farmer Leon Etchepare. Leon is a partner in Emerald Farms, which farms about 5,00…
Episode 11: Seeds for Bees with Samantha Lopes and Kris Melgard
In this episode we discuss the Seeds for Bees Program with two growers who have taken advantage of this resource. If the Seeds for Bees Program is new to you, it’s designed to encourage the use of co…
Episode 10: Water Use Efficiency with Zac Ellis
This episode takes us to Fresno where we visit with Olam Farms senior director of agronomy, Zac Ellis. Zac is in his sixth season with Olam Farms, but he has been around almonds since he was a kid. H…
Episode 9: Learning to Design an Orchard with Cal Mast
Today’s episode takes us outside of Turlock, California to the orchard of Cal Mast. Cal comes from a dairy background and purchased his 45-acre almond orchard in 2018. Over the past couple of years, …
Episode 8: Harvest Technology with Bret Sill
In this episode, we visit Kern County almond grower Bret Sill of Sill Properties to talk about harvesting technology. Bret’s family has been farming in the Shafter area for nearly 100 years. Bret att…
Episode 7: Water Conservation and Climate Smart Agriculture with Matt Angell
Matt Angell introduces us to some of the climate-smart farming practices he is exploring and his approach to water conservation. Matt is a third-generation farmer and the managing partner for both Ma…
Episode 6: Custom Harvesting with Luke Hicks
In this episode we meet Luke Hicks of LH Farm Service, a custom harvesting and orchard sanitation company. Luke shares about harvest operations, how he built his business from scratch, what equipment…
Episode 5: Irrigation Efficiency Through Technology with Sal Parra, Jr
In this episode we visit with Burford Ranch assistant manager Sal Parra, Jr. Sal grew up on the farm where he now lives and works alongside his father to manage 2,800 acres of almonds in western Fres…
Episode 4: The Almond Value Chain with Joe Gardiner
In this episode we visit with Joe Gardiner, sales manager at Treehouse California Almonds, and partner in Gardiner Farms and Pacific Ag Land Management. These experiences give Joe a full value chain …
Episode 2: Navel Orangeworm Mating Disruption with Kent Stenderup
Our featured topic for today’s episode, and a challenge many almond growers deal with: navel orangeworm. Kent Stenderup joins the show to talk about mating disruption for navel orangeworm, water, and…