California Ag Network

Category: Nut Industry

  • Vaccination Update for Agriculture Workers

    The Almond Alliance has been in touch with County Health Officers about the number of vaccinations available in each county and to gather information on how the vaccinations are being distributed.  As you have heard and read, the process of vaccination has differed in each region and in many cases has been confusing.  

    Vaccinations are being distributed categorically as defined by the California Department of Public Health with input from the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee. Given the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines, CDPH recommends balancing the prioritization of these scarce resources to maximize the goal of achieving community immunity for all Californians. 

    Vaccine Supply is Limited, But Preparations Are Underway for Phase 1B

    Preparations are underway to begin rolling out vaccines to those eligible in Phase 1B as soon as possible but that is dependent on vaccine availability.  For those eligible in Phase 1B, including educators, public safety, social services and food and agriculture workers some counties are evaluating and/or planning for worksite vaccinations, so you should expect that employees may start making inquiries.  The next phases of COVID Vaccine Distribution are as follows:

    Both federal and state distribution of vaccines has been delayed. As of January 13, a total of 971,829 vaccine doses have been administered statewide. As of January 13, a total of 2,948,350 vaccine doses, which includes the first and second dose, have been shipped to local health departments and health care systems that have facilities in multiple counties.

    Vaccination plans for each county are available at county websites. Find your county’s COVID-19 website, Click Here.

    It has also been reported that Phase 1B may be divided into two tiers. The first could include 1.4 million education and child-care workers including teachers, 1.1 million emergency services workers, 3.4 million food and agriculture workers including grocery store workers and 2.6 million people who are 75 or older.

    Recommendations from the Almond Alliance in preparation for food and agriculture vaccinations.

    1. Know your County Health Officer and Ag Commissioner (we can provide contact information and introduction). We are strengthening those relationships for our industry and are happy to share what we know. It will be critically important to familiarize yourself with your county’s vaccination plan and you should expect it to evolve as we move through initial phases of vaccine roll-out, e.g. the recent move-up in priority of those 65 and older.  It is likely there will be multiple vaccination pathways for you and your staff including worksites (mentioned above), community vaccination sites (e.g. schools, churches or fairgrounds), community clinics, pharmacies and healthcare providers

    2. Offer you site and a location to administer the vaccination if it makes sense.

    3. Provide your workforce educational materials about the vaccination.

    4. Make sure your workers understand what information they will need to receive the vaccination. No officials’ instructions have been provided, but we recommend the following:

    Staff should be prepared to show one or more of the following four pieces of identification to prove they are food and agriculture workers:

    • Employee badge with photo, OR
    • Professional license AND a photo ID, OR
    • Signed letter from employer on facility letterhead AND a photo ID, OR
    • Payment stub from employer with your name AND a photo ID.

  • CA Walnut Industry Welcomes Joshua Rahm as Director, Technical & Regulatory Affairs

    The California Walnut Board (CWB) and Commission (CWC) are pleased to welcome Joshua (Josh) Rahm as their new Director, Technical & Regulatory Affairs. Joshua comes to walnuts with a strong technical and regulatory background in domestic and international agribusiness. Prior to joining the Board and Commission, Joshua worked for Wonderful Citrus as a Director, Global Sourcing & Procurement. Previously, he worked for PepsiCo, in global procurement operations, agriculture and agronomy project management and food safety. Additionally, he spent several years with Syngenta and DuPont Pioneer (Corteva Agriscience). During his time with global leaders in agribusiness, Joshua worked closely with growers, manufacturing and supply chain, product management and marketing teams, as well as research and development and agronomics.

    With a broad crop protection and crop commodity portfolio experience combined with a family farming background, he looks forward to adding further value to the industry. Joshua holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agronomy & Agribusiness from South Dakota State University.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Joshua to the CWB/CWC team,” shared Michelle Connelly, Executive Director & CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission. “With a broad crop protection and crop commodity portfolio across the domestic and international landscape, combined with a family farming background, Josh is an added value that will serve well to our grower and handler community.”

    This is appointment comes at such a critical time in the industry, as the regulatory environment is ever-evolving and keeping California walnut growers abreast of the latest information is key to helping them to stay ahead of the curve. Josh will specifically be working to build and maintain positive, effective, and proactive relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies, provide strategic direction of the CWB/CWC Post-Harvest Research program, projects and initiatives, and provide regulatory stewardship and compliance leadership for the walnut industry, among other items.  Pacific Nut Producer Magazine welcomes Rahm as a new friend and defender of the industry.

  • Managing Phytophthora Diseases in Almond: Aerial, Root & Crown Rot

    There are three ways Phytophthora can injure an almond tree. Watch this brief interview with Kern County Area Orchard Systems Advisor Mohammad Yaghmour as he helps growers identify and manage Aerial Phytophthora, Root & Crown Rot.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • A New Microscopic Almond Pest of Concern

    Another pest in almonds? Just what we needed, right? Only this one you can’t see.  Almond growers have been dealing with nematodes for a long time; however, the peach root knot nematode is new to California almond orchards.  Watch this brief interview with UC Riverside Nematologist Andreas Westphal as he explains and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Ganoderma: Why Are My Almond Trees Falling Over?

    Almond trees are collapsing all over the California, and it’s not just an old age thing anymore. If you are experiencing this in your orchard, your trees may have Ganoderma Heart Rot. Watch this brief interview with UCCE Nut Crops Advisor Mae Culumber as she explains, based on her recent presentation at the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Potassium Nutrient Management in Almonds & Pistachios


    So how much potassium does an almond or pistachio orchard need? How and when should it be applied? Watch this brief interview with UCCE Orchard Systems Advisor Phoebe Gordon as she shares some facts and considerations for growers to maintain a healthy orchard and prevent potassium deficiencies. Read more about best practices for orchard management in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • Storing and Preserving Fresh Nuts

    One of the many wonderful things about California’s climate is that in many regions of the state you’ll find orchards of walnut, almond, pecan, pistachio or chestnut trees. You may be growing or planning to grow one or more of these trees in your yard so you can enjoy consuming the nuts. But do you know how to safely store, and preserve these fresh nuts?

    There are just a few simple steps to follow. First, be sure to promptly remove the hull (the fibrous outer covering) that may still be remaining on some of the nuts. (If you have hulled walnuts before you will know they’ll stain your hands brown, so you should wear gloves to hull walnuts.)

    During this time of COVID-19, you may be tempted to wash your fresh nuts, but don’t. Washing the nuts in their shell could increase their moisture and provide the environment for mold or bacteria to grow. Although not required to safely store the nuts, to decrease the likelihood of walnuts, almonds, pecans and pistachios developing mold, you may want to dry them. For walnuts and almonds, spread them out preferably single layer on a flat screen or tray that allows good air circulation. To prevent birds and other critters from making off with them while they are drying, cover them with another screen or plastic netting. Stir and move the nuts around daily.

    It will take several days for them to dry. To determine when they are sufficiently dry, remove the shell from several nuts. Break apart the almond kernels, or walnut meat. If they are rubbery, they’re not dried sufficiently. If they are crisp or brittle when broken, then they are dried adequately.

    For pecans, they should be dried slowly in air temperatures 75–85 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the shells from cracking. A fan blowing on the nuts will speed up the drying process, which can take up to 10 days. The pecans are dry when they’re brittle and the membrane between the kernel halves separate easily from the kernels.

    Pistachios can be dried in the sun on a plastic tarp, or they can be dried in the oven at 140–160 degrees Fahrenheit for 10–14 hours. They are dried when the kernels are crisp, but not brittle.

    Before consuming or storing at room temperature, fresh home-grown walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios or chestnuts, or those bought at farm stands, pasteurize them to kill any insects or insect eggs. To pasteurize, simply place them in the freezer for 48 hours. (Make sure your freezer is set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.)

    To store your walnuts, almond, pecans or pistachios, place them in clean moisture free, odor tight packaging, such as glass or plastic jars or other containers. The nuts can be stored shelled or unshelled. They can be stored up to a year in your refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Almonds can be stored in your freezer (set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) for a year or more, walnuts and pecans for two years plus, and pistachios for three years. 

    Chestnuts are different from the other nuts because they’re more like potatoes than tree nuts. They usually develop mold within two weeks if stored at room temperature. Unshelled chestnuts can only be stored for two to three months in the refrigerator, but shelled chestnuts can be stored for a year in the refrigerator. Both shelled and unshelled chestnuts can be stored in the freezer for one year or more.  Enjoy your stored nuts throughout the year! — By Kathy Low, UC Master Food Preserver of Solano & Yolo Counties

    For more information about the UC Master Food Preserver Program, including the Food Preservation Video Library, visit mfp.ucanr.edu.

  • Almond Ganoderma Butt Rot Spore Survey

    Ganoderma butt rot has been an increasing problem in the almond industry. The disease has been responsible for trees falling over all throughout the Central Valley. Ganoderma butt rot is caused by wood decay fungi that can spread via spores in the air. In order to better focus our management efforts, researchers must conduct a spore survey that will help us determine the times and locations that are at greatest risk of infection and spread by spores.

    The survey will include collecting air samples at almond orchards once a month for 2 years, so it will require long-term cooperation, but will be non-invasive and will not interfere with management practices. Any almond growers interested in volunteering their orchards (any age orchard works) for the research conducted by UC Davis plant pathologists, please contact Daisy Hernandez.

    Thank you all for your time and help.

    Contact:
    Daisy Hernandez, PhD, Student
    David Rizzo Lab,
    UC Davis
    Email: dahe@ucdavis.edu

  • Walnut Prices: What Growers Can Expect in the Near Future

    California walnut growers are not happy with current global market trends for their industry.  How long will the market remain in a slump? Will prices ever return to the record highs of 2014? Watch this brief interview with Jon Field, General Manager of the Walnut Bargaining Association, as he shares his projections for the future of the industry, based on his recent State of the Walnut Industry presentation at the annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • New Almond Board Programs Assist Growers with Pollination


    As almond pollination costs have gone up in recent years, the Almond Board of California has engaged in studies to help growers reduce costs and developed strategic partnerships with other organizations to provide some new services that almond growers should take advantage of.  Watch this brief interview with Josette Lewis from the Almond Board as she explains and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.