Almond Conference: The Almond Annual Report 2018

Published by the Almond Board of California, 1150 Ninth Street, Suite 1500, Modesto, CA 95354

In crop year 2017/18 (August 01, 2017 to July 31, 2018) the marketable almond production amounted to 2.4 billion pounds (1.3 million t) compared to 1.4 billion pounds in 2007/08.In 2017/18 the industry exported 67% of the crop (1.5 billion pounds), 734.7 million were marketed domestically.

Almonds are shipped to more than 90 countries. In 2007/08 the share of exports was the same, but the domestic shipments were only at 31% (395 million pounds). This is due to the tremendous efforts of the Board to increase almond consumption in the US. The top-ten export markets represent 71% of total exports. The export heavy-weights were Europe with 620 million pounds, of which Spain alone took 203 million, followed closely by Asia-Pacific with 613 million pounds (40% of total exports).

Globally there are five markets with more than 10% growth in shipments, i.e. China/Hong Kong +16%, India 19%, Italy +18%, Japan +18% as well as Mexico +20%.

Consequently market development efforts were started in Mexico, Japan and Italy. In 2017/18 one million pounds were exported in shelled state, 144 million pounds manufactured and 353 million – mostly to India and China – in-shell.

A century ago, 30% of the American population lived on farms. This number has decreased to less than 2%. According to the USDA Agricultural Census 6,800 almond farms were registered, 91% of them family farms owned and operated by third- and fourth-generation farmers who live on the land and will pass it on to children and grandchildren. The bearing area in 2017 was 1.33 million acres (5.34 million ha) .75% of California almond farms are 100 acres (40 ha) or less.

California’s almond farmers, both small and large, take a long-term view of success with respect of the land, natural resources and local communities. Every almond farmer recognizes that growth must be matched by an unprecedented commitment to sustainability.

They are focused on responsible and efficient use of water. 80% use efficient irrigation methods like micro-sprinklers and drip-irrigation. This reduces the water to grow each pound of almonds by 33% over the past twenty years. With the Almond Irrigation Improvement Continuum the industry avails of a roadmap to accelerate adoption of research-based water-efficient production techniques.

The hull/shell vs. kernel mass is 2:1. That means two pounds of hulls and shells for one pound of kernels. These sidelines of production have traditionally used as livestock bedding and feeding and burned for power generation. Changing markets and increased production have led to investigate new spin-offs.

At the end of their production lives trees are ground into small chips and distributed through the soil. Recent research has found benefits of mulching like increased soil organic matter, better water filtration and carbon sequestration. The almond’s hulls can feed animals big and small. Black soldier fly larvae, a feedstock for poultry and aquaculture, can be raised on an almond hull diet.