What is Blue Diamond Growers?

Blue Diamond Growers operates as the world's largest almond processing and marketing cooperative, representing approximately 3,000 California almond grower-members who collectively account for roughly half of the state's almond production. For the marketing year ending August 25, 2023, Blue Diamond had net sales of about $1.33 billion, processing almonds through three California facilities with combined operational space exceeding 2.5 million square feet. The cooperative markets whole almonds, almond ingredients (sliced, diced, flour, paste, butter), branded consumer products including snack almonds, and Almond Breeze almondmilk to customers in over 100 countries.

Established in 1910 as the California Almond Growers' Exchange, the cooperative operates under binding contracts with its grower-members, functioning as the primary handler and first point of commercial sale for member-produced almonds. California's almond crop is marketed to all 50 states and more than 90 foreign countries, making almonds California's largest food export. Blue Diamond's structure combines agricultural cooperative governance, with grower-owners electing a board of directors from membership—and consumer packaged goods operations managing global brands including Blue Diamond snack almonds, Almond Breeze (the number one almondmilk brand in the United States), and Nut-Thins gluten-free crackers.

Headquartered in Sacramento, California, the company employs approximately 1,800 people throughout its processing plants, receiving stations, corporate offices, and retail operations. The cooperative reported peak revenue of approximately $1.6 billion in 2022, with financial performance varying based on crop yields, global almond market conditions, and consumer demand for branded products.

Corporate Foundation

Blue Diamond Growers operates as a privately-held agricultural cooperative established in 1910 when 230 California almond farmers formed the California Almond Growers' Exchange. The Exchange adopted the blue diamond symbol in 1914, representing quality to distinguish products from European imports. The organization officially changed its name to Blue Diamond Growers in 1980.

The cooperative's governance structure consists of nine to eleven board members, with nine District Directors elected by membership from California's almond-growing regions serving three-year terms, and up to two Directors-at-Large appointed by the District Directors serving one-year terms. Steve Van Duyn was elected to serve as the new board chairman for Blue Diamond Growers in 2023, succeeding Dan Cummings who served as chairman from 2014 to 2023. Kai Bockmann was selected as President and Chief Executive Officer on January 16, 2023, succeeding Mark Jansen who led the cooperative for twelve years.

Bockmann brings over 25 years of global consumer packaged goods experience, having previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Saputo, Inc., one of the world's largest dairy companies with $14 billion in revenue and 18,000 employees across Canada, the U.S., Australia, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. Prior to Saputo, Bockmann served in various leadership roles at McCain Foods, the world's largest frozen potato producer, including Managing Director of Asia and President of the International Division.

The cooperative's headquarters location at 1802 C Street, Sacramento, California 95811, has served as the organization's corporate center since 1914. Blue Diamond announced in June 2025 that it will close its Sacramento processing plant by September 2026, impacting approximately 600 employees. The closure involves phased wind-down over 18-24 months, with manufacturing operations transferring to the Turlock and Salida facilities. Corporate headquarters will remain in Sacramento while the approximately 53-acre industrial site will be sold for redevelopment.

Production Infrastructure

Blue Diamond Growers operates three major almond processing facilities in California's Central Valley:

Sacramento Facility (Closure Planned September 2026):
The Sacramento headquarters encompasses over one million square feet of processing and storage on nearly 50 acres, including a cold storage and distribution center, an in-shell production facility, the cooperative offices, global marketing and sales departments, and the Almond Innovation Center. Documented records indicate the facility began operations with a receiving and packaging plant built in 1914. The third phase of layoffs affecting nearly 300 employees on September 1, 2026 will complete the closure of the Sacramento plant. The facility has processed in-shell almonds, blanched kernels, roasted products, and consumer packaged goods.

Salida Facility:
Company materials describe the Salida plant as the world's largest almond receiving station, documented as capable of handling over five million pounds of almonds per day during peak harvest season. Salida is home to the most technologically advanced brown almond processing line in the world, capable of processing up to 1.2 million pounds every 24 hours. The facility specializes in brown almond (natural, unblanched) processing and employs low-temperature, humidity-controlled pasteurization systems. The plant opened in 2019 according to industry sources.

Turlock Facility:
The Turlock plant spans 200,000 square feet on 88 acres and was recognized as the 2014 "Plant of the Year" by Food Engineering Magazine. Opened in 2013, this facility was designed specifically for value-added almond ingredient production and processing of consumer products. The plant houses advanced almond processing technologies including precision slicing and dicing equipment, blanching systems, roasting capabilities, and packaging lines for consumer goods. The Turlock plant was the first business in Stanislaus County to achieve Green Business certification through the California Green Business Network in 2021 and earned recertification.

Almond Innovation Center:
Blue Diamond established a 6,500 square-foot research and development facility in 2013 located at the Sacramento headquarters. The Innovation Center focuses on almond product development, ingredient applications for food manufacturers, and testing new processing technologies. The facility contains pilot-scale processing equipment, sensory evaluation capabilities, and product development laboratories.

The cooperative maintains what company materials describe as the industry's largest refrigerated and controlled-atmosphere storage capacity for preserving almond quality. Processing capabilities across facilities include:

• Hulling and shelling (primary processing)

• Pasteurization (mandatory for U.S. almonds per 2007 USDA regulations)

• Blanching (skin removal through hot water treatment)

• Slicing, slivering, and dicing (precision cutting to specifications)

• Roasting (dry and oil roasting)

• Grinding (flour and paste production)

• Flavoring and seasoning

• Foreign material detection and removal systems

• Electronic sorting by size, color, and defect detection

• Packaging for bulk, food service, and retail distribution

Product Portfolio

1. In-Shell Almonds

Whole almonds with shells intact, USDA graded for export and wholesale distribution to processors and specialty markets.

2. Natural Whole Almonds (Shelled, Unblanched)

Shelled raw almonds with brown skin intact, available in USDA grades: U.S. Fancy, U.S. Extra No. 1, U.S. No. 1 (Supreme), U.S. Select Sheller Run, U.S. Standard Sheller Run.

3. Blanched Whole Almonds

Whole almonds with skins removed through hot water blanching, for ingredient and further processing applications in bakery, confectionery, and food manufacturing.

4. Roasted Whole Almonds

Dry roasted or oil roasted whole almonds, natural (with skin) or blanched (without skin), unseasoned for B2B ingredient use and food service distribution.

5. Sliced Almonds

Thin-cut blanched or natural almonds in thickness grades: Extra Thin (0.5-0.7mm), Thin (0.7-1.0mm), Regular (1.1-1.4mm), Thick (1.5-1.8mm), for bakery toppings and confectionery.

6. Slivered Almonds

Blanched almonds cut lengthwise into julienne strips, typical specifications Regular (3.0-5.0mm) or Medium (4.0-6.0mm) thickness, for cooking, baking, and garnish applications.

7. Diced Almonds

Precision-cut cubed almonds in small, medium, or large dice sizes, blanched or natural, for bakery products, confectionery, ice cream, and prepared foods.

8. Almond Flour/Almond Meal

Finely ground blanched or natural almonds, granulation grades: Extra Fine (powder-like, <200 microns), Fine, or Meal (coarser grind with or without skin), for gluten-free baking and food manufacturing.

9. Almond Paste

Ground blanched almonds combined with sugar (typically 50-66% almond, 34-50% sugar) for confectionery fillings, marzipan production, and bakery applications.

10. Almond Butter

Ground roasted almonds processed into smooth or crunchy spreadable butter without added sugar, for ingredient use, food service, and retail distribution.

Certifications & Quality Standards

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: The following certifications are referenced in company materials and certification databases. AgriLinkage has not independently verified current validity, scope, or compliance status. Certification standing can change based on audit outcomes. Buyers requiring certified products should request current documentation directly from the supplier and verify validity with issuing bodies.

Certified Standards Documented:

Kosher Certification:

Blue Diamond products carry Kosher certification from multiple certifying bodies. Kosher certified products can be found on the OK Kosher website by searching for Blue Diamond. Refrigerated Almond Breeze products carry OU-D certification from the Orthodox Union, indicating dairy-free products processed on equipment that may also process dairy products. Specific product lines including snack almonds, crackers, and almond flour maintain Kosher certification year-round including Passover approval for select products.

Non-GMO Project Verification:

All Almond Breeze varieties except the Hint of Honey varieties are Non-GMO Project Verified. Blue Diamond Almond Flour is also Non-GMO Project Verified. Blue Diamond uses California almonds grown by cooperative members without the use of genetic engineering or gene manipulation, with almond varieties developed using traditional agricultural breeding techniques.

Gluten-Free Certification:

The Nut-Thins cracker line is certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). Products are formulated without wheat or gluten-containing ingredients and meet GFCO standards requiring less than 10 parts per million gluten content.

Organic Certification:

Documented organic almond production exists among Blue Diamond grower-members, though specific facility-level organic handling certifications (USDA Organic, CCOF) are not detailed in publicly available sources. Buyers requiring organic almonds should verify current organic certification status and scope directly with the company.

Food Safety Standards:

Company materials reference adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) principles, and implementation of comprehensive food safety protocols across processing facilities. Specific third-party food safety certifications (BRCGS, FSSC 22000, SQF) are not confirmed in public sources. The Turlock facility is documented as incorporating advanced quality and food safety assurance technologies, earning recognition as Food Engineering Magazine's 2014 Plant of the Year.

Mandatory Pasteurization Compliance:

All Blue Diamond almond processing facilities comply with the USDA's mandatory pasteurization order for California almonds implemented in 2007. Facilities employ approved pasteurization methods including propylene oxide treatment and steam pasteurization to achieve required pathogen reduction.

Market Distribution

Blue Diamond Growers operates extensive domestic and international distribution networks:

Export Markets:
Blue Diamond exports to more than 100 countries. Company annual reports document shipments through 104 ports worldwide as of 2021. Major export markets include Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia), Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Spain, UK), Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), Latin America (Mexico, Central and South America), and Canada. The cooperative reported 81% sales growth in Asia and 38% growth in Latin America in 2021.

Domestic Distribution:
Products reach all 50 U.S. states through multiple channels: retail grocery chains (conventional and natural/organic), club stores (Costco, Sam's Club), specialty food retailers, food service distributors, direct-to-consumer (online, grower stores), and industrial/ingredient customers (food manufacturers, bakeries, confectioners). The branded consumer product lines maintain significant U.S. market share, with Almond Breeze documented as the number one almondmilk brand in refrigerated and shelf-stable categories.

Strategic Partnerships:
Company materials reference a strategic partnership with Grupo LALA, Mexico's leading dairy company, for growing the Almond Breeze brand throughout Latin America. The Almond Breeze brand operates through licensee partner arrangements in over 70 countries, with local partners handling production, distribution, and marketing under Blue Diamond's brand and quality specifications.

Customer Segments:

Retail Consumers: Branded snack almonds, Almond Breeze almondmilk, Nut-Thins crackers sold through grocery, club, natural channel, online

Food Manufacturers: Almond ingredients (whole, sliced, diced, flour, paste, butter) for bakery, confectionery, dairy alternative, prepared food, nutritional bar, snack, and beverage manufacturers worldwide

Food Service: Bulk almonds, portion-controlled packs, ingredient products for restaurants, hotels, institutions, schools

Industrial: Large-volume bulk almonds for further processing, packaging, and distribution by other handlers and brands

Global Ingredients Division:
Blue Diamond operates a dedicated B2B ingredients division (bdingredients.com) providing customized almond specifications, technical support, supply chain solutions, and long-term contract capabilities for commercial customers. The division serves customers in bakery, confectionery, dairy alternatives, plant-based protein, cosmetics, and other industries requiring almond ingredients.

Sustainability Initiatives

DISCLAIMER: The following represents publicly stated initiatives documented in company materials and annual reports. Independent verification of implementation would require third-party assessment.

Orchard Stewardship Incentive Program (OSIP):
Blue Diamond launched the Orchard Stewardship Incentive Program with the 2020 crop year to provide financial incentives to grower-members who adopt sustainability practices. Through a partnership with Project Aphis m., growers can receive free seeds and/or plant material for "conservation cover," also known as pollinator habitat, as well as direct grower payments to offset the cost of implementing cover cropping, conservation cover, hedgerows and whole orchard recycling. First-year participation exceeded 10,000 acres of cover crops, surpassing initial program goals.

USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Grant:
Blue Diamond received a five-year, $45 million USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grant awarded in 2023. The grant supports expanded financial support through OSIP and enables grower-members to implement climate-smart agricultural practices including cover cropping, conservation cover, hedgerows, and whole orchard recycling. The program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and improve soil health across member orchards.

Water Management:
Company materials indicate that over 85% of Blue Diamond member orchards utilize efficient drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation systems, representing nearly double the California average for high-efficiency irrigation adoption. The cooperative references industry data showing California almond growers have reduced water usage per pound of almonds by 33% over a 20-year period through improved irrigation technology, deficit irrigation strategies, and precision agriculture.

Pollinator Health:
The Seeds for Bees program encourages cover crop planting in almond orchards to increase bee forage diversity and duration while improving soil health. Blue Diamond documented a $100,000 donation to Project Apis m., a nonprofit focused on honeybee health research and habitat improvement. Given that almonds require pollination and California's almond industry relies on approximately 2 million honey bee colonies annually, pollinator health represents a critical sustainability and production priority.

Facility Sustainability:
The Turlock plant earned Green Business certification through the California Green Business Network in 2021 and achieved recertification. Green Business certification requires compliance with environmental standards for waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, and pollution prevention.

Technology & Innovation

Almond Innovation Center:
Established in 2013 as a 6,500 square-foot research and development facility at Sacramento headquarters, the Innovation Center develops new almond products, ingredient applications, and processing technologies. The center provides product development support for food manufacturers, conducts sensory evaluation and consumer testing, and explores new uses for almonds across food, beverage, cosmetic, and other industries.

Processing Technology:
The Turlock facility incorporates advanced technologies including: electronic sorting systems for size and color grading, foreign material detection using optical scanners and X-ray systems, insect damage identification through imaging technology, precision cutting and sizing equipment for sliced and diced products, automated packaging lines, and quality control monitoring systems. The Salida facility employs low-temperature, humidity-controlled pasteurization documented as providing consistent pathogen reduction while preserving almond quality and flavor.

Product Innovation:
Blue Diamond has introduced numerous almond-based product innovations including: the first flavored snack almonds in the 1950s, almond milk commercialization beginning in 1998, almond-based crackers (Nut-Thins) in 2004, and ongoing flavor innovations. Recent product launches include Korean BBQ and elote Mexican street corn-flavored snack almonds, with Chilé 'n Lime earning "best nuts" recognition in People magazine's Food Awards 2023.

Supply Chain Technology:
Company materials reference investments in information technology systems supporting global sales operations, supply chain management, logistics coordination, inventory tracking, and customer relationship management. The cooperative developed booking systems and supply scenario planning tools to manage logistics for international shipments across 104 ports worldwide.

Financial Performance & Market Position

For the marketing year ending August 25, 2023, Blue Diamond had net sales of about $1.33 billion compared to $1.6 billion for 2022. The decline reflected industry-wide oversupply conditions, with the state's almond industry beginning the 2023-24 marketing year with an 800-million-pound carryover compared to a more desirable 300-400 million pounds. Peak revenue of approximately $1.6 billion was achieved in 2022.

Grower Returns:
Grower returns for 2022 crop-year Nonpareil and Supareil meats averaged $1.65 per pound, maxing out at $1.74 including quality premiums, compared to $2.20 per pound average for 2021 crop-year with $2.30 per pound maximum including premiums. Returns declined due to industry oversupply, reduced global demand, and market volatility. The cooperative historically maintained industry-leading grower returns for eleven consecutive years prior to the 2024 crop year.

Market Share:
Almond Breeze is documented as the number one almondmilk brand in the United States in both refrigerated and shelf-stable categories. Blue Diamond maintains leadership positions in the snack nuts category. However, CEO Kai Bockmann noted in 2023 that less than 20% of U.S. consumers purchase Blue Diamond almonds, representing significant growth opportunity in domestic markets.

Competitive Position:
Blue Diamond represents approximately 3,000 of California's estimated 7,600 almond farms (roughly 39% of farms), accounting for roughly half of California almond production by volume. Major competitors include Wonderful Almonds (largest private almond company), Olam Edible Nuts, Mariani Nut Company, Borges Agricultural & Industrial Nuts, and numerous smaller handlers and cooperatives.

Operational Transition & Strategic Restructuring

Sacramento Plant Closure:
Blue Diamond announced in June 2025 that it will close its Sacramento processing plant, with phased wind-down over 18-24 months impacting approximately 600 employees. The closure will complete in three phases: Phase 1 (September 2025) affecting 73 employees, Phase 2 (March-May 2026) affecting 36 employees, and Phase 3 (September 2026) affecting nearly 300 employees.

CEO Kai Bockmann cited the challenges of maintaining the historic facility as "too costly and inefficient," with the decision aimed at strengthening the cooperative's market position and increasing value to grower-members. The cooperative is providing severance packages, outplacement support, relocation opportunities to Turlock and Salida facilities, and incentives for employees remaining through the transition period.

Impact on Operations:
Manufacturing operations will consolidate into the Turlock and Salida facilities, both located closer to the majority of grower-member farms in the Central Valley. The transition aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce overhead costs, and enhance supply chain integration. Corporate headquarters, sales offices, and the retail gift shop will remain in Sacramento. The approximately 53-acre Sacramento site will be sold for redevelopment.

Strategic Rationale:
The closure reflects broader strategic restructuring initiated by CEO Bockmann following his appointment in January 2023. The cooperative aims to streamline operations, improve cost competitiveness, and position for long-term sustainability amid challenging market conditions including industry oversupply, volatile global demand, and intensifying competition.

Information Currency and Verification

This company profile reflects publicly available information from the Blue Diamond Growers website, company annual reports, business registrations, USDA databases, certification bodies, industry publications, and news reports. Time-sensitive data including production volumes, facility counts, certifications, revenue figures, employee numbers, and operational configurations may change.

Critical Operational Change:

The Sacramento facility closure announced June 2025 with completion scheduled September 2026 represents a significant operational restructuring. During this 18-24 month transition period, processing capacity, logistics, product availability, lead times, and customer service may be affected. Buyers establishing new relationships or placing significant orders should verify current processing capacity, facility capabilities, and delivery timelines directly with Blue Diamond's commercial teams.

Financial Performance Volatility:
Net sales declined from $1.6 billion in 2022 to $1.33 billion in 2023, reflecting industry-wide market pressures. Financial performance and grower returns vary significantly based on annual crop yields, global supply-demand dynamics, export market conditions, currency fluctuations, and competitive pressures. Historical financial data should not be assumed to reflect current or future performance.

Certification Validity:
Certification validity and compliance status can change based on audits, operational changes, facility closures, and annual recertification requirements. Buyers requiring certified products should request current certification documentation from Blue Diamond for specific products and facilities, and verify validity directly with certification bodies including OK Kosher Certification, Orthodox Union, Non-GMO Project, Gluten-Free Certification Organization, and any required food safety or organic certifying bodies.

Grower Returns Competitiveness:
While Blue Diamond maintained industry-leading grower returns for eleven consecutive years, the cooperative acknowledged that 2024 crop returns trailed some competitors. Grower satisfaction and membership stability may be affected by relative return competitiveness. The cooperative's strategic restructuring aims to restore competitive positioning for future crop years.

AgriLinkage Verification Limitations:
AgriLinkage has not conducted independent verification of:

• Operational capabilities and processing capacity claims

• Facility conditions and equipment performance

• Compliance with food safety, quality, or certification standards

• Financial stability or creditworthiness

• Product quality, consistency, or specifications

• Delivery reliability or customer service performance

• Accuracy of sustainability or environmental claims

Commercial parties should conduct independent due diligence appropriate to their transaction requirements, including: facility audits, product testing, certification verification, financial reference checks, customer references, supply agreement review, and assessment of operational capacity during the Sacramento facility transition period.

Accessing Current Information

Potential suppliers, buyers, and commercial partners should contact Blue Diamond Growers directly for current information on:

• Processing capacity and lead times during Sacramento facility closure transition

• Current certification status and scope for specific products and facilities

• Product specifications, available formats, and minimum order quantities

• Export capabilities and documentation for specific destination countries

• Pricing, payment terms, and commercial requirements

• Long-term supply agreement structures and volume commitments

• Technical support and product development collaboration

• Facility audit scheduling and compliance documentation

Official Contact Information:

• Corporate Headquarters: 1802 C Street, Sacramento, CA 95811

• Main Phone: (916) 442-0771

• Website: www.bluediamond.com

• Global Ingredients Division: www.bdingredients.com

• Consumer Products: www.bluediamondalmonds.com

Key Commercial Departments:

• Global Ingredients Division (B2B sales)

• Export Sales (international markets)

• Domestic Sales (U.S. retail, food service)

• Customer Service

• Quality Assurance & Food Safety

• Logistics & Supply Chain

Sources: Blue Diamond Growers website, Annual Reports 2021-2025, USDA databases, industry publications, certification bodies, news reports