American Council for Food Safety & Quality

Member Spotlight: Chico Nut Company

At the close of each fiscal year, plant employees who are directly responsible for sanitation and management of member companies and who achieve the ACFSQ / DFA Food Safety/GMP score of 1,800 points or better on at

least one inspection, are invited to attend the 1800 Club Awards Dinner. It is here that the who's who are recognized for their food safety and quality programs. In recognition of maintaining continuous sanitary conditions, certificates and plaques are given to all qualified plants.

Beginning in 2001 we included an additional incentive recognizing the "Plant of the Year". This highly prestigious award is based on the performances of the facilities for the entire year leading up to the awards ceremony. This year, ACFSQ /DFA was pleased to announce Chico Nut Company as the Plant of the Year.

Chico Nut was founded by the Peterson family in 1987. As local almond growers, the Petersons were interested in establishing a processing plant and a marketing company to maintain direct involvement in the growing almond industry.

Although the decision to open a processing plant was new, the building they purchased was not. When the facility came up for sale, the Peterson's seized the opportunity and bought it. For the last 22 years, Chico Nut has dedicated themselves to maintaining the character of the facility, while enforcing strict sanitation guidelines.

Crowned the "City of Trees", Chico served as the perfect home for the Petersons' new enterprise. Surrounded by productive almond trees, good weather and great soil, this small town was the ideal location for this operation.

Today, Chico Nut is vertically integrated by growing, processing, and marketing their almonds. They ship more than 70% of their product to international markets and pride themselves on supplying their customers with high quality product. Many times they specially size and grade the almonds for confectionary products.

When asked about their recent award, President Skip Hubbard said "We are very proud to receive the American Council for Food Safety and Quality Safety Plant of the Year award. It is a huge honor and everyone is thrilled."

Receiving Plant of the Year is the most recent highlight for Chico Nut, who is dedicated to maintaining and constantly improving their food safety and sanitation program. As customers come to visit the processing plant, they are guided past the shipping warehouse—made from native redwood—where plaques and certificates line the walls from the past 19 years. As a member of the 1800 Club since 1990, Chico Nut and their employees are pleased with their latest achievement and award.

According to Chico Nut's Wesley Battson, after receiving such a prestigious award, Chico Nut hosts a luncheon for all the employees to attend. It is there that the President presents the award to the employees, thanking them for their unwavering dedication to food safety and quality. Wesley went on to say "The more we educate our employees, the better product we have, and a better product leads to a safer industry overall."

According to Skip Hubbard "Chico Nut is a quality focused, quality driven foundation. Our awards are a direct result of the dedicated employees and wholesome product we work with every day."