California Ag Network

Category: Nut Industry

  • 2025 Results of Pre-Emergent Herbicide Demonstration Trial for Walnut

    The 2025 UCCE walnut pre-emergent herbicide demonstration trial is completed, and the results show strengths and weaknesses of 19 different herbicide treatments, applied either in February or March.

    Takeaways:

    1. All treatments were applied with a strong post-emergent mix, but hairy fleabane and white clover were not adequately controlled with post-emergent treatments alone. Control was dependent on the addition of an ALS inhibitor herbicide (products like Craze, Matrix, or Mission).

    2. Summer annual weeds were best controlled by products with long residuals (products like Alion, Chateau, Brake On! (not registered in CA), and Prowl.

    3. Yellow nutsedge was controlled by treatments with Zeus or Craze.

    4. Conclusion: Pre-emergent treatments in late winter must account for winter annual weeds that have already emerged and perennial weeds while also maintaining good residual control further into the summer.

    Introduction

    Winter pre-emergent herbicide applications are critical to get right if yearly weed management operations are going to be successful in walnut orchards. Poor selection of herbicides or missed timing could make the difference between good control and battling an overwhelming infestation of weeds. In walnut orchards I have regularly heard two comments concerning pre-emergent herbicide applications in walnut orchards:

    1. Those who apply pre-emergent herbicides in the fall, just after harvest, tend to have the cleanest orchards.

    2. February or March are the most common times to apply pre-emergent herbicides in walnut orchards.

    Maybe my perception is incorrect, but these weed control strategies seem to be at odds. When it comes to winter annual weeds, it is likely safest to apply pre-emergent herbicides before germination due to several common weed species with herbicide resistance issues (hairy fleabane, Italian ryegrass, annual bluegrass). Applications later in the winter will have to deal with emerged weeds, potentially resulting in more escapes and misses.

    However, herbicide treatments in February or March are common, and many growers have been successful with these treatments. Why is this, and what is the key to achieving good control later in the winter? Success at later timings depends on how much post-emergent activity you are getting out of your tank mix. Some pre-emergent herbicides can contribute to your post-emergent activity. Common pre-emergent herbicides like Goal, Chateau, Matrix, Pindar, and others add some extra post-emergent activity to tank mixes when used in winter months. Dr. Brad Hanson (UCCE Weed Specialist at UC Davis) discussed this topic when he addressed tank mixes of Alion and Matrix in his UC Weed Science Blog article (linked here). My recent work with rimsulfuron on established johnsongrass also explored this subject (linked here). These prior discussions focused on rimsulfuron products as tank mix partners for pre-emergent applications, but I wanted test a broader range of products applied in February and March. This year’s walnut preemergent herbicide demonstration made some progress toward that goal.

    I will discuss my findings next, and at the end of this article I have included results tables. All products except one are currently labeled for use in walnut orchards, though with some restrictions on orchard age. The one unlabeled product in this study was Brake On!, manufactured by SePRO, currently pending registration in CA. This is not an exhaustive list, and the data provided here does not constitute a recommendation of any product.

    Trial design

    In 2025, I arranged my pre-emergent demonstration trial to evaluate individual products and tank mixes for weed control efficacy when applied in February and March. This trial was installed in the Loybas Hill region of Tehama County, in a 4-year-old walnut orchard with Tehama silt loam soil. A post-emergent mix of 2 qt/A Roundup Powermax 3 and 2 qt/A Rely 280 was added to every plot in February, and pre-emergent herbicides were applied either in the mix, or one month later in March. The tables at the end of this article show the full list of treatments and when they were applied. The first table represents weeds that were present at application, hairy fleabane and white clover. The second represents weeds that grew to be prominent in May and June, so their control depended on residual activity from my herbicide treatments lasting long into the summer.

    Results overview

    White Clover and Hairy Fleabane (Table 1): Both weeds were controlled by all three group 2 herbicides tested: Craze, Revolt, and Mission. Revolt was weaker on fleabane while Craze was weaker on clover and these differences also showed up in the tank mix treatments with both products applied with Prowl. February and March treatments with these three herbicides produced very similar results. The 12 fl oz/A rate of Chateau also effectively suppressed both species.

    Summer annual weeds (Table 2): The primary weeds in the categories recorded here were grass weeds (jungle rice and large crabgrass) and broadleaf weeds (prostrate knotweed, spurge, and pigweed). Many herbicides provided good control until June (3-4 months after treatment) but only Alion, Brake on! (not currently labeled for CA), and March-applied Mission maintained “good” control of broadleaves through July. Only Alion and Prowl maintained “good” control of grasses through July.

    Yellow Nutsedge (YNS; Table 2): Zeus was the best tested product for nutsedge control, but Craze also showed some effects in July by keeping nutsedge coverage low. Rimsulfuron products like Matrix and Revolt are also labeled for YNS control, but labels suggest sequential applications, and the application timings used in this trial may not have been ideal to target YNS with this product.

    Summary and cautions:

    This is a single trial only representing one weed population and one soil type, so results may vary by location. However, hopefully this demonstrates the importance of tank mixing to control emerged weeds as well as future emergence. Group 2 herbicides like Revolt, Mission, and Craze can provide good post-emergent control in addition to their pre-emergent activity. But be cautious, this herbicide group is notorious for herbicide resistance. Do not overuse this class of herbicides or you will likely start seeing weeds escaping your treatments.

    Look through the following tables if you are interested in seeing more information on efficacy in these trials. To see weed coverage data, view the report on the UCCE Tehama website here. Thanks to the California Walnut Commission for supporting this work. For any questions or additional information, contact Ryan Hill at 530-527-3101 or rjahill@ucanr.edu. — By Ryan Hill, UCCE Agronomy and Weed Science Advisor, Tehama County

    Weed control tables:

    Control was determined by calculating % reduction in weed coverage, relative to the plot with the worst infestation. Control is summarized by four categories. These categories may not represent each grower’s threshold of tolerance for weed control, but they can still provide relative comparisons between the products tested.

    Poor control is indicated by a “p”, representing control between 0 and 50%.

    Moderate control is indicted by an “m”, representing control between 50 and 70%.

    Good control is indicated by a “g” and highlighted light green, representing control between 70 and 90%.

    Excellent control is indicated by an “e” and highlighted dark green, representing control between 90 and 100%.

    Table 1: The effect of different pre-emergent herbicides on two weeds that were present at application, hairy fleabane and white clover.

    Table 2: The effect of different pre-emergent herbicides on weeds that germinated or sprouted in summer. Summer annual broadleaves included prostrate spurge, knotweed, and pigweed and summer annual grasses were primarily crabgrass and jungle rice.

  • American Pistachio Growers Awarded $1 Million for Regional Pest Management Collaboration

    American Pistachio Growers (APG), in collaboration with Washington State University, University of California – Riverside, UC Cooperative Extension, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and regional nut industry partners, has been awarded a $1 million grant through the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Program to develop a Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) network for Navel Orangeworm (NOW) — the most damaging pest in California’s tree nut industry.

    The project, led by Dr. Houston Wilson (UC Riverside), Dr. David Crowder (WSU), Dr. Jhalendra Rijal (UC IPM), and Dr. Charles Burks (USDA ARS) will pilot a groundbreaking Decision Aid System (DAS) that integrates real-time trap data, weather models, and crop phenology into a single communication platform. The goal is to improve the timing and precision of pest control decisions while fostering regional cooperation among almond, pistachio, and walnut growers.

    “This project moves us beyond the farm gate,” said Joe Coelho, APG’s Director of Sustainability and Member Outreach, who serves as Technical Agronomist and PCA on the project. “For the first time, growers across commodities will have access to shared regional data and communication tools that allow them to anticipate pest pressure before it hits their fields and ultimately make precise, timely treatment decisions. The outcome is fewer sprays, lower costs, and higher quality nuts.”

    Through field-level data acquisition, the system’s meta-analytics will identify regional flight trends coupled with crop-specific phenological development and enhance forecasting of NOW flights — critical steps in breaking the pest’s lifecycle across neighboring farms. Ultimately, the program is expected to help reduce pesticide use, improve nut quality, and lower aflatoxin risk associated with pest damage.

    APG will serve as the grower administration partner, coordinating grower participation and outreach. Carlee Branco, APG Grant Programs Administrator, will conduct on-farm grower coordination, engagement and data collection. “This is a major milestone for sustainable pest management,” said Coelho, “and it demonstrates APG’s leadership in advancing research that directly benefits growers.”

    The Regional IPM for Navel Orangeworm Project represents a pivotal step toward the state’s Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap by providing a scalable, data-driven framework that can be expanded statewide.

    “This is exactly the kind of innovation California agriculture needs,” said Dr. Wilson. “Regional coordination is essential to long-term pest reduction, especially for highly mobile insects like the navel orangeworm, and this project will now put those ideas into practice at scale.”

    The program launches in early 2026, with pilot regions in West Fresno County and Modesto, serving as the foundation for a future statewide expansion. Growers within these territories who are interested should contact Carlee Branco for more information at cbranco@americanpistachios.org.

    American Pistachio Growers (APG) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 800 growers and processors across California, Arizona, and New Mexico. APG’s mission is to enhance grower profitability through global marketing, industry research, and sustainability initiatives that promote economically viable and environmentally responsible pistachio production.

  • Commercializing Almond Hulls as Food Ingredients

    Almond Board of California — Historically used for dairy cattle feed, almond hulls have had a consistent place in the animal nutrition space. However, a declining dairy herd, in combination with hulls being traded below their production cost, has propelled the industry and the Almond Board of California (ABC) to think about alternative revenue-generating opportunities.

    Helping lead this charge is ABC’s Biomass Working Group, formed in 2017 to explore new applications for almond co-products.

    “This biomass working group is where business meets science,” said Michael Kelley, chairman of the committee and president of Central California Almond Growers Association (CCAGA). “We have become exceedingly appreciative of the ideas and the potential for the commercialization of products using almond hulls.”

    Nutrition Potential

    One area almond hulls have shown strong potential for is human food products. Because of their high fiber content, natural sugars, phytochemicals, minerals, and processing versatility, they offer multiple benefits in the value-added ingredients food space.

    Being that they make up 50% of the almond fruit, they are also abundant in California, creating a reliable and readily available supply for large-scale product development.

    While some may question their safety for human consumption, there are positive indicators that prove almond hulls can meet food-grade quality standards. ABC Associate Director of Food Research and Technology, Guangwei Huang, noted that almond hulls have long been used safely in livestock feed, with no negative effects on animal health or performance. Studies have also shown that pesticide residue and toxicity exposure are not a concern.

    To explore these possibilities further, ABC partnered with Mattson, a product innovation firm, to develop samples of what could be done with hulls.

    These included a high-fiber bar made with 15% almond hulls, delivering five grams of fiber per serving, and a coffee beverage crafted from coarse-ground, roasted hulls. When added to coffee, almond hull powder helped reduce bitterness and enhanced sweetness. In baked goods like bread, it boosted both fiber and phytochemical content.

    Opportunity in “Upcycled” Markets

    Another advantage almond hulls offer is that by adding just 10% or more of almond hull powder to a product, it can qualify for a new third-party “upcycled” certification. While “upcycling” is a relatively new term, it’s become increasingly important to consumers concerned about food waste, noted Daniel Kurzrock, founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods.

    After working with upcycled ingredients across various commodities, Kurzrock said he’s seen firsthand the wide-ranging benefits. These include improved sustainability and circularity, the creation of new revenue streams, reduced disposal costs and stronger alignment with shifting consumer values.

    “The almond industry is not alone in seeing this potential,” he said. “There’s profit potential for every aspect of the stakeholder chain if we’re able to create uses that are solving problems for companies that buy ingredients.”

    Because the end-market for almond hulls is still being widely explored, he also suggested that at this stage in development, it’s important to initiate customer conversations before deciding what to invest in.

    “An approach that we find to be working with other materials is doing a pilot to produce some quantity of viable hulls that can go to a miller or a secondary processor to start those customer conversations,” he said.

    Steps for Commercialization

    While it’s not realistic to expect the hulls to be process-ready when leaving the huller/sheller, Huang said efforts to clean and improve their quality can still make a significant impact.

    “When the time comes, the industry needs to set minimal specifications or quality requirements for almond hulls for food uses,” Huang said. “We are trying to minimize foreign material, and most importantly, we need the involvement and attention of stakeholders. We’re not expecting the huller/seller to get hulls to the ready-to-process stage, but they can minimize those foreign materials down to less than 5%.”

    The industry must also complete a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) assessment for human consumption, a requirement mandated by the Food and Drug Administration since hulls haven’t previously been used as a food ingredient. This assessment  is expected to be completed by late 2025, Huang said.

    Innovations in Processing

    Several companies in the almond industry are already investing in hull-cleaning systems to ensure they are ready for when almond hulls receive food-safe approval. One of those pioneer companies is Cortez Growers Association.

    Recognizing almond hulls as a potential revenue stream, Cortez implemented a cleaning system to remove unwanted materials – sticks, shells, and almond meats – that typically end up in the hull pile. By separating these components, they could sell the almond meats as hash, a “refreshing benefit” to add value to what was once considered waste, said general manager, Dave Thiel.

    Other processors are also refining their methods. Corbin Sturdivan of Wilkey Industries explained that current hull cleaning systems include an aspirator to remove the shell from the hull and a detwigger deck to remove sticks from the hulls.

    “While this has worked for many years to reduce the fiber content for dairy feed, there is more refinement that we can do with this system by introducing additional screening and additional aspiration,” Sturdivan said.

    Through their trials with ABC, Sturdivan and his team discovered that by adding a screen to sift through the hulls, they could be better classified and ranked.

    “We would de-twig the product; it would be screened, and the screen would sift out all of the fines from the hulls,” he said. “What is left over is what we would call scalped hulls, and this is your larger, good material created from the early stages of hulling.”

    From their observation, Wilkey Industries also found that 1 to 1.3% of total hull weight can actually be recoverable kernel.

    “That translates to roughly 3% of your kernel production that is actually sitting in the hull pile,” he said. “So, by integrating a screen and some additional aspiration, not only can we clean the hulls, but we can also reclaim those kernels and hash that have much higher value to be sold instead of letting them go to dairy feed uses.”

    Additional Sorting Techniques

    As cleaning technologies continue to advance, innovations in color sorting are emerging as a key tool for preparing almond hulls for food-grade applications. The team at Chandler Automation has spent time working on this, and the initial models have been successful at “creating pure hull piles in one pass,” said CEO, Sean Chandler.

    More research is needed to determine where this best fits in the manufacturing process – be it at the huller, processor, or a separate site and how it will be financially feasible.

    “We have to do more research on our side to see the best way to mechanically clean hulls, mechanically feed it, and mechanically pass it through our systems because the technology is there to create that pure, premium hull,” he said.

    Looking Ahead

    As ABC continues to refine its strategy for marketing almond hulls as a food ingredient, the industry is taking proactive measures to position itself for success, and that starts with collaboration among all players involved.

    “We are about to begin a new journey to generate more revenue from almond hulls,” Huang concluded. “It will take a while and more effort to develop the market and demand, but if you are interested in creating more value out of almond hulls, many of us can work together to shorten the process.”

  • Oakville Bluegrass Cooperative Opens Enrollment for Reimbursable Cover Crop Seed

    Oakville Bluegrass Cooperative is pleased to announce open enrollment for the USDA’s newly expanded Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program—building on last year’s successful Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. This year, the program is expanding direct funding to producers, and the new incentive will reimburse producers for the purchase of up to ten acres worth of seed for any perennial conservation cover.

    One choice for the incentive, Oakville bluegrass, is dormant from April through September and doesn’t compete with cash crops for water or nutrients making it ideal for California permanent crops. This low growing, drought tolerant cover crop will last over ten years when well managed, significantly reducing labor and input costs for growers.

    As part of the USDA’s AMP initiative, producers can now access:

    • Full seed cost coverage for up to 10 acres of Oakville bluegrass
    • An additional $100/acre incentive for up to 100 acres.
    • Support in the form of a grower’s guide, educational field days, and guidance on carbon removal credits.

    “We’re thrilled to put more money in producers’ hands under the Advancing Markets for Producers program, ” said Jeff Thiel, Director at Oakville Bluegrass Cooeprative. Perennial cover like Oakville bluegrass can reduce operating costs over time while also building soil health and conserving water. We’re especially excited to help producers tap into the growing carbon credit market while establishing a proven, cost-effective cover crop.”

    Interested growers can attend an online informational session on October 21 at 11 am by registering at https://bit.ly/ampobc25 or visit https://www.obc.ag/advancing-markets-for-producersfor more information.

    The Oakville Bluegrass Cooperative collaboratively creates solutions to the most pressing challenges facing growers. Members work together to uncover best practices in sustainable agriculture tailored to the needs of specialty crop growers. Learnings are shared so all members can benefit from adopting practices that will ensure the long-term sustainability of profits from their farms.

  • Getting American Pistachios Exempt from Mexico’s “Unhealthy” Snack Tax

    As American Pistachio Growers eyes Mexico for increased export growth potential, they have been sharing the results of health studies on the benefits of pistachios with consumers there.  Currently the government of Mexico taxes its citizens on foods it deems unhealthy with a snack tax, and unfortunately, pistachios are on that list! Zachary Fraser from American Pistachio Growers met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network during their Pistachio Insights Day to share the details of this issue and how they are working with the Mexican government to change that. Watch this brief interview and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • California Walnut Commission Announces New Board Members

    The California Walnut Commission is announcing its newly elected commission board members who will serve two-year terms beginning Sept. 1, 2025, and ending Aug. 31, 2027. The commission’s board consists of eight producer members and four handler members, as well as alternates for each seat. For this upcoming term, seven new individuals will be joining the board as noted below.

    DISTRICT 1

    Producer Member: Jay Colombini, Linden

    Producer Alternate: Jack Vickery, Winters

    Producer Member: Ashley DeValentine McKenzie, Rio Oso

    Producer Alternate: Donald Norene, Rio Oso

    Producer Member: R. Davin Norene, Woodland

    Producer Alternate: Henry Gilbert, Wheatland (New)

    Producer Member: Kali Dittrich, Clements (New)

    Producer Alternate: John Heier, Live Oak (New)

    DISTRICT 2

    Producer Member: Darrell Cordova, Denair

    Producer Alternate: Gordon Heinrich, Modesto

    Producer Member: Andrew Souza, Crows Landing (New)

    Producer Alternate: Gurjant Khosa, Fowler

    Producer Member: Neil Jolliff, Modesto (New)

    Producer Alternate: Open

    Producer Member: Everett Souza Jr, Crows Landing (New)

    Producer Alternate: Open

    HANDLERS

    Handler Member: Brian Dunning, Olivehurst

    Handler Alternate: Jeffrey Sleeper, Orland

    Handler Member: Jack Mariani, Winters

    Handler Alternate: William Carriere, Glen

    Handler Member: Charles R. Crain Jr., Los Molinos

    Handler Alternate: William Crain, Los Molinos

    Handler Member: Christopher Cromwell, Stockton (New)

    Handler Alternate: Matt Langford, Stockton

    “Our new commission board members represent the next generation of leadership for California Walnuts,” said Robert Verloop,Executive Director and CEO of the California Walnut Commission. “Their expertise, vision, and dedication will be key as we work to grow global demand, support innovation and ultimately drive grower prosperity.”

    Commission board members will help advance the strategic priorities outlined in the industry’s strategic plan. These include delivering the best quality California walnuts; international trade and consumer marketing, supporting global retail and foodservice sales; fostering walnut innovation; defining sustainability as a point of differentiation; and conducting nutrition and health research and more.

    About the California Walnut Commission

    The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 3,700 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWC, established in 1987, promotes the usage of walnuts through domestic and export market development activities as well as supports health research associated with consuming walnuts.

    To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.

  • California Orchards Blossom with NRCS Help Managing Pests

    California’s Central Valley is a land of agricultural abundance, known for its incredible diversity of crops including fruits, vegetables and nuts. It produces approximately 25% of the nation’s food.

    But with plenty can come pests – in as many varieties and types as the crops grown in the region. Area farmers have worked with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement integrated pest management into their orchard operations with marked results.

    Sandra and Mike Smith of Smith Family Farm in Fresno, California, showed NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt the benefits of the practices that they have incorporated with NRCS assistance as they toured their 36-acre almond orchard.

    Established in 1903, the farm is on the cusp of welcoming its fifth generation of farmers. By adapting their operations to increase conservation and sustainability practices, the Smiths hope to pass on a rich legacy to their young granddaughters.

    The Smiths highlighted the impact that integrated pest management practices – notably hormone disruptors – have had in their fight to combat navel orangeworms in their almond orchards.

    “We were at 17.1% loss of our almond crop two years ago because of the infestation of navel orangeworms,” Mike Smith told Chief Bettencourt. “Once we implemented the mating disrupters, we were able to bring our almond reject numbers down to 1.1%.”

    Navel orangeworms burrow into almond nuts to feed on the kernel, damaging the nut and impacting producers’ overall yield and harvest quality. Deploying pheromone-based mating disruption tools can reduce navel orangeworm populations by hindering male moths’ ability to locate females.

    The Smiths have also leaned on NRCS technical assistance to implement other conservation techniques to increase the health of their orchard. The family now prioritizes composting and increasing organic matter, guided by the knowledge gained through NRCS collaboration.

    Further north, Chinchiolo Farming Co., Inc., a family-run business located in Lodi, California, is managing orchards of a different kind while embracing similar production practices.

    Producer James Patrick Chinchiolo has worked to uphold a century-old farming legacy, started by great grandfather Italian immigrant James Joseph Chinchiolo. Chinchiolo has worked with NRCS to incorporate a number of conservation practices including cover crops, tractor replacements, orchard removal and soil incorporation.

    Like the Smiths, Chinchiolo has dealt with pest issues, incorporating a Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) approach in managing his orchards. The BIOS system aligns with NRCS principles, embracing the implementation of conservation practices like cover cropping, beneficial insect habitat, and compost application to keep pests at bay.

    “We aim to foster a more ecologically balanced environment within our orchards,” Chinchiolo said during his discussion with Chief Bettencourt. “We are focusing on minimizing our inputs and creating more habitat for beneficial insects to flourish to help control unwanted pests.”

    Conservation practices like cover cropping and compost application not only help pollinators flourish – a crucial part of growing beautiful cherries – they also protect the trees’ overall health, improving soil structure and water retention.

    After last summer’s heat impacted this year’s cherry crop, Chinchiolo is working to take additional measures to make his trees more heat resistant in preparation for next season.

    “Growing cherries is never predictable. But it’s always beautiful.” Chinchiolo said.

    Helping People Help the Land

    During her visit, Chief Bettencourt emphasized that the agency’s primary focus is to give producers the tools that they need to be the best producers that they can be – increasing their yield while stewarding the nation’s natural resources.

    “Producers are the solution, and we want to empower them by getting our highly skilled staff out in the field to provide technical support. We want to streamline our programs to work better and faster for producers,” she said.

    NRCS helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners make critical investments in their operations and local communities by helping them implement proven practices to ensure all of America’s farms, ranches and private lands are economically viable and thriving.

    If you are interested learning how these programs can help you achieve your operational and land management goals, find your local USDA Service Center and get started today.

    Follow the Chief through our blog series as she meets with producers across the country to learn how NRCS has helped their operations. — By Debra Denhart, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA

  • 2025 California Walnut Industry Crop Estimate Up from Last Year

    The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the official 2025 California Walnut Industry Objective Measurement Report on Wednesday, September 4, 2025. The 2025 California walnut production is forecasted at 710,000 tons (644,101 MT), up 18% from 2024’s production of 603,000 tons (547,032 MT). The forecast is based on 365,000 bearing acres, down 1% from 2024’s estimated bearing acreage of 370,000 acres.

    The September 4th announcement from NASS provides the industry with an objective crop volume estimate. Using scientific methodologies, USDA field staff counted, measured, weighed, and evaluated thousands of walnuts from major growing regions in July and August for use in a statistical acreage model to establish the annual walnut crop estimate.

    In addition to the updated crop estimate, the California walnut industry is nearing the close-out of the 2024 crop year. Early evaluations are encouraging, suggesting it will be one of the lowest unsold carry-in inventory volumes the industry has seen in years and much of this inventory will be sold in September and October before the new harvest is ready to ship.

    “The estimate of 710,000 tons is in-line with what the industry was projecting,” said Robert Verloop, Executive Director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission. “Combined with virtually being sold out of the 2024 crop, the industry is well positioned to start shipping new harvest California walnuts immediately, providing seller and buyer confidence and stable markets.”

    “Moreover, walnut quality is exceptional, the result of careful farming, ideal spring and summer conditions and replenished soil moisture, with a consistent nut set. Growers have been opening walnuts and have commented that the walnuts kernels are completely filling the shells and have exceptionally light color for this time of the year. This crop may exceed the excellent quality we have seen in the last two years. I think international markets will be very pleased.”

    Harvest begins in September with early varieties and may extend into early November, harvesting the crop at its peak quality and full development.

    The California walnut industry foresees a promising season ahead. The California Walnut Board and Commission continue its focus to build long-term demand and increase sales for California walnuts by implementing programs that drive consumers to eat more walnuts, more often, and in more ways. With a strong commitment to delivering excellent quality, the highest food safety standards, consumer appeal and a reliable supply, California walnuts are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the global market — today and into the future.

    About the California Walnut Board and Commission

    The California Walnut Board (CWB) and California Walnut Commission (CWC) represent more than 3,700 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWB, established in 1948, promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research. The CWC, established in 1987, is involved in health research with consuming walnuts as well as domestic and export market development activities.

    To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.

  • Solid Expectations for the 2025 California Walnut Crop

    Mother Nature has favored California walnut growers this season with improved growing conditions/tree health, and a larger crop is expected than last year with high quality product. An exceptionally low carry-in inventory could also yield higher prices for growers this year. Watch this brief interview with Robert Verloop, CEO of the California Walnut Board & Commission, as he met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to highlight expectations for this year’s walnut crop and recent activities to boost global market access. Verloop will be sharing the State of the Walnut Industry report at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo on Nov. 11th at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds and at the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on Nov. 14th at the Fresno Fairgrounds, so be sure to attend.

  • Valley Farmer Alexandra Duarte Launches Campaign for State Senate

    Conservative Republican, farmer, and mother of four, Alexandra Duarte officially announced today that she is running for California’s 4th State Senate District.

    Alexandra and her husband, John, built their life on their family farm in Modesto, where they grow almonds and walnuts. Alexandra lives by the values of faith, hard work, and patriotism, which she and John always taught to their children. As a farmer, Alexandra knows firsthand the long days and tough work that make our way of life possible.

    “Newsom’s socialist Democrats are destroying California, and I’m ready to fight back,” said Duarte. “It’s time the 4th District had a Senator who will stand up for true conservative principles—defending our families, protecting our God-given freedoms, and ensuring Sacramento works for us, not against us. I will be that Senator.”

    Alexandra is unapologetically pro-gun, pro-family, and pro-freedom. In the State Senate, she will fight to secure the border, defend the rights of parents and our children, and stop radical environmental policies that have left California’s forests to burn and water inaccessible.

    Unlike career politicians, Alexandra Duarte is a farmer, a mom, and a conservative who believes in faith, family, and freedom. She is running for State Senate to fight for hardworking families, expose radical Sacramento democrats, and Make California Great Again.

    Conservative. Farmer. Mom. Alexandra Duarte for State Senate.

    To learn more about Alexandra Duarte, visit AlexandraForSenate.com.