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Reinvestment strategy
In the farming business for generations, Carriere has experienced many ups and downs but has persevered through it all. We learn from Bill what has enabled the company’ s longevity and success in the industry.“ Our long-term strategy is to reinvest as much as possible into the business. For example, my uncle and my father were very generous; instead of using the money to live a luxurious life and leaving us with debt, they chose to put the money back into the company. Reinvesting in the company set us up for long-term growth. I would even argue that we have been at the forefront of cost-saving, environmentally friendly options, such as solar panels. We currently harness close to two megawatts of solar power to support everything from our wells to our office and processing facility. Being proactive in environmental stewardship not only saves us money but also represents an upfront investment that will help keep our costs down in the future. Locking in our energy prices is especially important, as electricity costs in California have doubled in the last five years and are expected to continue to climb,” he enlightens.
Commitment to carbon reduction
In line with its commitment to eco-friendly practices, Carriere has implemented a process that gives new life to everything brought in from the orchard, as Bill explains.“ We compost all of the waste generated from our hulling operation. When we bring in the walnuts, we wash and scrub them, remove the leaves, grass and any damaged nuts, and then compost all the organic material. Moreover, we have just received approval from the local county to build a thermal conversion system that transforms our walnut shells into renewable natural gas. Developed by SynTech Holdings, LLC, it is a high-temperature conversion process that heats the shell to 900 degrees Celsius in a low-oxygen environment,
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