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 firsthand how transportation disruptions are impacting the almond supply chain. In this episode of the Almond Journey Podcast, Rigg talks about the current logistics, transportation, and shipping challenges that the industry is facing while trying to execute on the global demand for almonds.

“I feel like it’s a death by a thousand cuts. It’s not any one thing that is causing it…. And anytime we feel like we get a little momentum, something occurs that takes us back down to square one.” - Darren Rigg

Rigg grew up in Escalon and started his career in 2008 after graduating from Chico State. He joined Minturn Nut in 2017 where he manages sales and procurement of almonds including managing call pools, buyer and seller accounts, and developing new business.

“A big part of it is being that conduit to the grower and having that market discovery…. Understanding the nuances and the intricacies in every market and position Minturn and also our growers best into those markets so we can try to have success.” - Darren Rigg

In Today’s episode:

• Meet Darren Rigg, a field buyer and sales rep with Minturn Nut and Board Member for the Almond Board of California.
• Discover what impacts handlers are experiencing from transportation disruptions
• Explore the global almond market and how the industry is getting through the challenges they are facing.

“It’s made us be a lot more in tune with who are logistics partners are…. If things get smoothed out, if anything, we should be more equipped…we should be able to get ourselves out of pickles a little more quickly the next time. We hope there will be some residual value from this, even though it has been miserable as hell.” -Darren Rigg

ABC Update

Around 70% of all California almonds are exported, and there are a number of factors causing backlogs and working against the handlers who are trying to get those almonds shipped. Almond Board of California Senior Analyst for Government Relations Brock Densel said to understand the economic impacts of these issues at the handler level, they conducted a handler survey. He said the survey results can be summed up in three categories: shipping costs, administrative costs and storage costs.

Resources:

●    "Transportation Challenges Continue, Cost Industry in Multiple Ways"

●    "Training Tuesday Part Two - Transportation Survey and China Facility Registration"

The Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.

ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.