MODESTO, Calif. — Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Ripon) has been recognized as the Almond Alliance of California’s 2019 Champion of the Year for his leadership in educating his colleagues on both sides of the aisle about issues important to the California almond industry. The Almond Champion of the Year Award is presented annually to state legislators, members of Congress and other elected officials who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in education, coalition building, and promoting legislation and policies that encourage the advancement and protection of California agriculture and the California almond industry.
Assemblymember Heath Flora works with multiple trade organizations to help educate his colleagues about how specific pieces of legislation and policies may be harmful to the agricultural industry. For the almond industry specifically, Assemblymember Flora was instrumental in bringing to life what we call the informal Almond Caucus, helped us implement our signature annual event Almond Movers and Shakers and the Almond Festival at the State Capitol. All of these events needed a strong legislative champion and Assemblymember Flora effectively served in that role. He works hard to establish strong working relationships on both sides of the aisle and has ensured rural and urban legislators understand the almond industry.
Chairman of the Almond Alliance of California Mike Curry pointed out, “Assemblymember Heath Flora is a champion for our industry, and we look forward to his continued leadership while helping us expand the knowledge about California almonds within the State Capitol.”
About the Almond Alliance of California
The Almond Alliance of California (AAC) is a trusted non-profit organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of the California almond community. California almonds generate more than $21 billion in economic revenue and directly contribute more than $11 billion to the state’s total economy. California’s top agricultural export, almonds create approximately 104,000 jobs statewide, over 97,000 in the Central Valley, which suffers from chronic unemployment. The AAC is dedicated to educating state legislators, policy makers and regulatory officials about the California almond community. As a membership-based organization, our members include almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers and allied businesses. Through workshops, newsletters, conferences, social media and personal meetings, AAC works to raise awareness, knowledge and provide a better understanding about the scope, size, value and sustainability of the California almond community.
For more information on the Almond Alliance, visit https://almondalliance.org/ or check out the Almond Alliance on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
–Almond Alliance of California
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