| In the Beginning |
As folks transitioned out of cotton and into tree nuts, the industry recognized the need to have active and effective representation at the local, state and national levels. Having enjoyed such effective representation over the years from the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, these folks yearned for the same representation in the tree nut processing industry. Issues such as air quality, food safety, labor, taxes, employee safety, and environmental concerns are at the forefront, and there is a significant need for an aggressive and dynamic Association to lead the industry into the next decade and beyond. In recognition of this, the Western Agricultural Processors Association was created in 2009.Â
The Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA) shares staff and office space with the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations taking advantage of a unique and opportunistic situation. WAPA is a voluntary dues organization with four shared staff and one dedicated staff person. Regulatory, legislative and legal issues fall under the purview of this new organization for the tree nut processing industry, which includes almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. From air quality permits to conditional use permits, from regulatory hearings on greenhouse gases to federal legislation on food safety, and from OSHA violations to assisting members on hazardous materials business plans, no issue is too small or too large for WAPA. WAPA has assembled one of the best and most capable staffs in the industry, and the results are already starting to show. |
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| Membership |
The Western Agricultural Processors Association represents facilities involved in the processing of almonds, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. Membership in the Association is classified as “Regular†or “Associateâ€. Regular memberships are limited to almond hullers or processors, pecan and pistachio processors, and walnut dehydrators and processors.Â
Associate memberships are limited to “any individual or business entity which is not engaged in agricultural processing, but which provides products or services directly related to the agricultural processing industry.†WAPA Associate members include, but are not limited to, commodity brokers, accounting firms, and insurance brokers. |
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| Organization |
| The Western Agricultural Processors Association is governed by a Board of Directors, elected by its membership. The Board consists of up to 15 members from throughout the state, and throughout the industry. The Board meets on a quarterly basis and conducts an Annual Meeting in the spring of each year. WAPA, in conjunction with the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, conducts a special training school for its members focused on safety. In combination with the school, the Association holds a Labor Management Seminar for all of the managers. |
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| Consulting Services |
| In researching and considering the concept of forming a new organization, the Boards of Directors for the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations instructed staff to perform some of the work on a consulting basis first. The point was to determine the workload from consulting and to determine if there was sufficient interest. In November of 2007, the Association began conducting services under consulting contracts for such services as air quality permits and safety plans. The effort has been so successful that demand has progressed outside the tree nut industry into other agricultural processing facilities, including vegetable dehydration facilities, tomato processing facilities, and wheat mills, as well as cotton gins in Arizona. It was determined by the new Board of Directors of WAPA, that WAPA would maintain the consulting services to provide offsetting income to help with the expenses of getting the new organization up and running. Today, WAPA provides for a long list of satisfied clients in the agricultural processing industry, by providing critical services such as air quality, safety, food safety, and environmental issues (Hazardous Materials Business Plan, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plans, etc.). |
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