IN THIS ISSUE: LESSONS ON TRUST What does it mean when you take consulting to a whole new level of being a trusted advisor? Morrison Consultant Jesse Converse provides the inside scoop.
CALAMCO:
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF A PIONEERING PAST & A FERTILE FUTURE www.calamco.com
CLIENT CORNER We are not the only ones with interesting news to share. Inside you will find exciting updates from our current clients including Sunsweet’s 100 year anniversary celebration.
Ammonia-based nitrogen fertilizers are vital to many
Best Fertilizers), including their interest in CALAMCO.
crops in California, the nation’s largest agricultural
Today, CALAMCO is California’s largest provider
state. There is no larger or more important provider
of ammonia, aqua, and AN20 nitrogen fertilizers
of ammonia fertilizers than CALAMCO, a grower-
with approximately 110,000 tons storage capacity.
owned cooperative based in Stockton. This year
The cooperative is made up of approximately
marks the 60th anniversary of this critical player in
1,100 grower-members around California, as well
the modern California agriculture story.
as fertilizer dealers throughout the state. The J. R.
Having founded The Best Fertilizers Company in 1932, Lowell W. Berry had a vision to form a joint
OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION In May, we celebrated 15 years of business with an ice cream social open house. It’s not every day that you can spend quality ice cream time with Congressman Doug LaMalfa so we soaked up every minute of it!
Simplot Company continues as CALAMCO’s industry partner.
venture with California growers to manufacture and
Morrison & Company is proud to have served
sell anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. Mr. Berry knew
CALAMCO for several years, including recruiting
that partnering with growers would provide both
for CALAMCO’s Chief Financial Officer and VP
needed capital and a loyal customer base, and
of Operations executive positions. Morrison &
California Ammonia Company (now “CALAMCO”)
Company Founder and Principal Brent Morrison’s
was incorporated on March 8, 1957. Construction
service relationship with CALAMCO covers half
on its first plant in Lathrop began soon after and the
its history, starting as manager of their services by
facility was completed and in operation in 1958.
Deloitte from 1986 to 1992.
By the end of that year the company had grown to approximately 800 grower-shareholders.
Since 1957, CALAMCO shareholders have enjoyed high quality, reliable supply, and reduced fertilizer
At one time California boasted eight ammonia
costs. We join them in congratulating the company
plants, of which CALAMCO operated two. However,
and knowing they will enjoy many more years of
by the 1970s, domestic manufacturing of ammonia
success!
had become challenging and uneconomical. In 1978 the CALAMCO Board of Directors approved the financing of an ammonia terminal at the Port of Stockton, providing easy entrance for overseas suppliers and ready access to the state’s rich
MORRISON SNAPSHOTS
agricultural land. The first tanker vessel docked at
to
CALAMCO’s port facility in March 1979, marking
participate in these last few months. In June,
a major change in the way this vital crop input is
There
have
been
numerous
events
we celebrated our annual company BBQ with
secured.
a pool party for friends and family (photo
In 1984, the J.R. Simplot Company saw the potential
above). Take a look at the additional fun
of expanding into California and purchased the
we’ve had on the back page.
California assets of Occidental Chemical (formerly
WWW.MORRISONCO.NET
Grower Bernel Harlan (left) and Founder Lowell W. Berry (right) before the company’s opening in 1958.
NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2017