California Ag Network

Tag: almond orchards

  • Start With the Conversation That Determines Your Orchard’s Future

    Planting an almond orchard has never been a simple decision. But in today’s margin-tight environment, the choice of rootstock and variety combination is more than an agronomic preference — it is a 20- to 25-year business decision that can shape profitability, harvest efficiency, marketability and long-term risk.

    That was the focus of a grower-facing discussion moderated by Almond Board of California’s Michael Roots, with perspectives from Dave Phippen of Travaille and Phippen, Duarte Nursery’s John Arellano and grower Brandon Ribiero, at the 2026 Almond Crack Out event.

    For growers, the main message was clear. Do not make a planting decision in isolation. A new orchard should begin with a practical, sometimes uncomfortable, conversation about water, soil, rootstock, variety, harvest timing, market demand and, most importantly, economics.

    “Know Your Breakeven Cost Per Pound”

    Ribiero put the economics plainly when he said growers should “know your breakeven cost per pound.”

    That calculation should sit at the center of every planting conversation. Ribiero described it as a simple equation of cost divided by yield. If a grower expects production costs of $3,500 per acre and assumes 2,500 pounds per acre, the breakeven is about $1.40 per pound. If debt, land costs or other obligations push total costs to $4,500 per acre at the same yield, that breakeven rises to $1.80 per pound.

    That difference matters. In a market where prices can move quickly and margins can narrow, the wrong yield assumption, or the wrong rootstock and variety combination for a site, can make an orchard difficult to carry through the low points of the price cycle.

    Ribiero also warned that growers cannot always “save their way to prosperity.” Trimming some costs may help at the margins, but yield is often what moves the breakeven number in a meaningful way. That makes variety performance, rootstock fit and realistic production expectations central to the decision.

    Start With Water, Soil and Site Limitations

    Before selecting a variety, Ribiero said growers should first understand “all things water” — supply, quality and rights. Without water, he noted, the rest of the planting plan loses its foundation.

    From there, the conversation moves to soil. The right rootstock depends on what the site needs most, including vigor, anchorage, salt tolerance, disease resistance, replant tolerance or other characteristics. Prior Almond Board coverage of rootstock selection has emphasized the same point. Growers should identify a site’s limitations first, then select a rootstock that helps address the biggest risks.

    That means soil tests, water quality information, local grower experience and advisor input should all be part of the planning process. Once trees are planted, growers can adjust irrigation and fertility programs, but they cannot easily redo rootstock selection, variety choice or pre-plant soil preparation.

    Bring the Right People Into the Conversation Early

    Roots framed the panel around a gap that often appears in orchard planning. Growers may talk with a nursery early, but the handler is sometimes brought in after planting decisions are already made, or never at all. The panelists encouraged growers to widen the conversation before committing to trees.

    That group should include the nursery, handler, pest control adviser, neighboring growers and other trusted advisors who understand the region. Arellano said a nursery representative should be prepared to answer questions across rootstock, variety, fit for the site and how the planting will work operationally. If he does not have an answer, he said, the next step is finding someone who does.

    Ribiero said he often asks similar questions of different people one-on-one, looking for patterns in the answers. Where the advice is consistent, growers gain confidence. Where there are outliers, that is where the next question should be asked.

    Marketability Should Not Be an Afterthought

    Phippen brought the handler perspective into sharp focus. A variety may look attractive on paper, and a nursery may be able to supply the trees, but the buying public ultimately determines how that almond is valued. Market classification, quality expectations, defects, customer preferences and regional demand all matter.

    For Phippen, that means the marketing team should be part of the decision-making process. They can help growers understand what is moving well, what may be oversupplied and what buyers are asking for. A grower may be able to produce a variety, but the better question is whether the market wants it, and at what price.

    That conversation is especially important because handlers may serve different customers and markets. Quality tolerance, product form, timing and buyer preference can vary. A variety that fits one handler’s program may not be the right fit for another.

    Do Not Overcomplicate the Orchard

    One of Ribiero’s lessons from experience was the value of simplicity. He described a planting with multiple varieties intended to hedge risk around bloom, pollination and market movement. In practice, that complexity created harvest inefficiency without delivering a better return.

    His takeaway for growers was direct. Do not overthink it. A planting plan that is efficient, repeatable and well-matched to the site may provide more long-term value than one built around too many assumptions. Simplicity can reduce operational headaches and make it easier to scale what works.

    Pre-Plant Work Is the Last Chance to Get Some Things Right

    The panel also emphasized the importance of pre-plant groundwork and amendments. Ribiero noted that once an orchard is planted, it is difficult to incorporate materials into the active root zone. If a site needs amendments such as lime, gypsum, sulfur or compost, pre-plant is often the best opportunity to get them where they need to be.

    That point ties directly back to economics. A grower may be tempted to trim development costs up front, but those savings can become expensive if poor preparation limits tree performance for the life of the orchard.

    A Grower’s Pre-Planting Checklist

    • Calculate your breakeven cost per pound using realistic cost and yield assumptions.
    • Confirm water supply, water quality and water rights before moving deeper into planning.
    • Match rootstock to soil conditions, site limitations and long-term orchard goals.
    • Ask your handler how the variety fits current and future market needs.
    • Talk with neighboring growers who have experience with similar soils, water and varieties.
    • Include your PCA, nursery representative, handler and trusted advisors early.
    • Review independent field data and regional trial information where available.
    • Keep the orchard design practical for harvest timing, equipment and labor efficiency.
    • Complete needed soil preparation and amendments before planting.

    The Bottom Line

    Choosing an almond rootstock and variety combination is not just a horticultural decision. It is a business plan, a risk-management strategy and a long-term commitment to a specific site. The most successful planting decisions begin before the nursery order is placed, with honest conversations about what the orchard must produce, what the market will reward and what the grower can afford.

    For growers considering a new planting, Ribiero’s advice is a practical place to start. Know your breakeven cost per pound. From there, every other decision — water, soil, rootstock, variety, marketability and orchard design — should help answer one question. Can this orchard make money through the full price cycle? — Story Contributed by the Almond Board of California

  • Common Tree Disease May Contribute to Reduced Orchard Longevity

    Recent studies conducted by scientists at UCCE and CSU Bakersfield demonstrate that a common disease prevalent in vineyards and orchards may impact long-term orchard longevity of almonds in the southern San Joaquin Valley.  Almond orchards with a high incidence of crown gall, a disease caused by a ubiquitous soilborne pathogen, exhibit high rates of tree failure caused by a newly identified wood rotting disease.

    Crown gall is common in walnut and almond orchards and can be readily identified by the tumors it induces on the roots and crowns of trees. Unless severe, crown gall generally does not cause tree mortality, but may limit tree size, thus affecting overall yield.  Growers with crown gall-affected orchards often replant young trees that exhibit girdling by the tumors but leave mature trees untreated. Within the past decade, however, growers have noticed heightened prevalence of tree mortality due to butt rot in crown gall-affected almond orchards. The butt rot disease is caused by an introduced fungal pathogen, Ganoderma adspersum, that was first reported in California in 2016.

    From 2024 through 2026, UCCE researchers have surveyed over 23,000 almond trees in Kern and Tulare Counties, documenting prevalence of both butt rot and crown gall.  Molecular identification of the butt rot pathogen in each surveyed orchard was conducted by scientists at CSU Bakersfield. The study found that Ganoderma adspersum was the only species of Ganoderma isolated in all surveyed orchards. Additionally, the results indicated that orchards with crown gall were six times more likely to have butt rot disease. Trees with historic or active signs of butt rot also exhibited 1.5 times the mortality rate of healthy trees over a 26-month survey period.

    The results of this work demonstrate that the introduction of the new butt rot pathogen may elevate the importance of crown gall as a predictor of orchard longevity. The implication of this finding is that the planting of crown gall-free rootstocks during orchard establishment may be key to future reduction of risk from G. adspersum. Similarly, Mohammad Yaghmour and Elizabeth Fichtner, Farm Advisors in Kern and Tulare Counties, respectively, found that crown gall was also associated with increased incidence of thousand cankers disease on walnut.  Fichtner has also reported that crown gall is related to heightened root predation by ten-lined June beetle on walnut.

    The current study was conducted with support from the Almond Board of California and as a collaborative effort between UCCE scientists including Elizabeth Fichtner, Santosh Bhandari, Mohammad Yaghmour, and Raymond Mireles, and CSU Bakersfield Professor Isolde Francis and Chance Kophamer, graduate student. — Story by Elizabeth J. Fichtner, UC Ag and Natural Resources

  • ‘Demo 57 Orchard’ Near Los Banos Showcases 57 Almond Variety and Rootstock Combinations

    A new almond demonstration orchard featuring 57 combinations of varieties and rootstocks has been planted near Los Banos to help growers evaluate planting decisions for the next generation of orchards.

    Known as “Demo 57,” the RPAC Variety & Rootstock Demo Orchard was planted this year adjacent to the RPAC and PAPC facilities, allowing visiting growers to easily walk through the orchard and observe how different combinations perform over time.

    The project was designed so growers can evaluate today’s commercial varieties from prominent tree nurseries alongside newer selections and rootstocks that may shape future almond plantings.

    The orchard was planted in the same year PAPC founder and longtime grower Louie Parreira will celebrate his 100th birthday, a milestone that highlights how much almond production has evolved over the past several generations.  Louie’s son, David Parreira, reflected on how orchards were planted when earlier generations of the family first entered the almond business.

    “When my father and grandfather planted their first almonds, they were on a 24-foot square spacing, about 75 trees per acre. They planted four rows of Nonpareil, then two rows of Mission, then four rows of Nonpareil and two rows of Davey and so on. I don’t think they put much fertilizer on and irrigated only when the trees looked stressed. They were happy to make 500 pounds per acre. Harvest was all by hand and the beekeepers paid the grower to bring bees in so they could make honey. Obviously, almond production has changed a lot!”

    Almond grower and RPAC partner Dennis Soares, who entered the almond industry after two decades in the cotton business, said the industry has changed dramatically since he planted his first orchards.

    “Almond prices were around 75 cents a pound when I planted my first almonds in 1999. Coming from the cotton business, we learned some lessons the hard way about planting the wrong varieties, rootstocks and spacings, like planting Wood Colony at 18-foot spacing.

    “Today plentiful information is available to growers, and making the right decisions is critical when planting a new orchard.  This demo orchard gives growers a chance to see many different combinations and evaluate what might work best for their operation.”

    Soares noted the project also benefits from agronomic support from David Doll, widely known in the industry as the Almond Doctor.

    “Working with David Doll on agronomic support has been invaluable. He provides a tremendous amount of information and stays closely connected with the almond growing community around the world.”

    The project was developed in collaboration with leading nursery partners supplying genetics and planting material.

    John Duarte, President of Duarte Nursery, expressed that “we appreciate RPAC providing nurseries this opportunity to put forward our newest ideas and genetics. For our planting, we included Yorizane high-topped containerized trees on Bright’s Hybrid 5. We believe that this new orchard system will be the highest production and most efficient almond orchard to date. Time will tell. Growers will see it firsthand.”

    “Rootstock selection plays a major role in long-term orchard performance,” said Seana Day, CEO of Dave Wilson Nursery. “Having a demonstration site like this allows growers to compare combinations and better understand how they may perform in commercial plantings. We appreciate RPAC bringing together multiple nursery partners to make this possible.”

    “New almond varieties and rootstocks are coming to market faster than ever, and growers need reliable ways to evaluate them,” said Tom Burchell, owner of Burchell Nursery. “This orchard gives the industry a place to see how different combinations perform side by side in the same environment. We are proud to partner with RPAC on a project that will provide valuable insight for growers across California.”

    In addition to the variety and rootstock trials, the orchard includes a hedgerow planted with ten species of California native plants designed to demonstrate how habitat plantings may support beneficial insects in almond orchards.

    The Demo 57 Orchard is expected to serve as a site for future grower visits and field discussions as the different combinations develop. — Story by RPAC LLC

  • Almond Conference Updates Growers on Best Practices for Bees & Pollination

    As almond growers prepare for pollinating their orchards — one of the most important tasks for establishing the new crop — here are insights from the Almond Conference to consider.  A “Honey Bees & Pollination” panel was moderated by Josette Lewis of the Almond Board of California (ABC).

    Hives Per Acre for Self-Fertile Cultivars: Elina Niño

    Following a string of bee losses over the past twenty years, 2025 was especially severe, with a 62% loss.  According to Elina Niño, apiculture scientist at UC Davis, the losses are becoming unsustainable.

    Niño pointed out that, in spite of having only 0.6 million of the 2.5-2.7 million colonies in the US, California ranks third in honey production, after North and South Dakota.

    Niño conducted a study of the pollination needs of self-fertile cultivars.  She excluded bees from some trees and for others used one or two hives per acre.  She counted the number of bees per flower per hour and after harvest she measured the kernel mass of 100 nuts per tree.

    The results showed that the number of visits per flower was similar for one hive as for two hives per acre.  Although the trees set more nuts and yielded more weight when one or two hives were present, kernel mass was higher where bees were excluded, presumably due to spreading the trees’ resources over fewer nuts.

    State of the US Commercial Beekeeping Industry: Matt Beekman

    The biological state of the beekeeping industry is precarious, according to Matt Beekman, a beekeeper based in Hughson, California who spends summers in North Dakota.  He presented a biological and financial State of the Beekeeping Industry report.

    Parasites & Pathogens: Varroa Mites & Viruses

    The varroa mite parasite continues to afflict beehives.  Reproducing quickly, the mites vector viruses that then spread from bee to bee in the densely populated hive.  The viruses can also spread in semen.  Area-wide applications of miticide help manage the mites.

    Only one chemical had been approved to suppress varroa mites since 2005.  That chemical, Amitraz, was registered for beehive use in 2013 in California, the last state to do so.  Some softer chemistries are available, but they are temperature dependent.

    California approved two new products in 2025, one oxalic acid-based and the other RNA-based.  They are expensive, though, costing $74 per colony per year.

    Nutrition: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

    Each hive needs about 50 pounds of pollen and 100 pounds of nectar year.  With fewer acres enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program, pollen and nectar may be scarce.

    Alternatively, almond growers can plant cover crops in the orchards to meet the need.  Seeds for Bees supplies free, appropriate cover crop seeds the first year and a discounted price the second year.  Many growers continue buying the seeds annually after seeing how effective they are.

    Pesticides: No to Organosilicon Adjuvant

    Used to amplify the effectiveness of pesticides, organosilicon surfactants harm bees.  Growers should ask their PCA to use one of the available alternatives instead.

    Beekman said that fungicides need to be sprayed during bloom, but advised using no tank mixes, adjuvants or insecticides during bloom, and applying fungicides in the early evening when bees are not flying.

    Financial Snapshot

    The net profit for beekeepers in 2024 was $11 per hive.  Overtime wages adversely impacted beekeepers, who need workers to do nighttime maintenance and overnight travel.  US honey production is declining due to fewer locations where bees can be placed to collect nectar.  The bees need more access to public land.

    Meanwhile, honey imports are increasing.  Imported honey is sometimes cut with synthetic sugar syrups.  Since honey is one of the few commodities for which the US does not have a standard definition, ambiguity and adulteration occur.

    India is now the largest exporter of honey into the US, with prices of $0.99-1.08/lb.   The US price is $2.69/lb., and the yield is declining.   

    Endangered Pollinator Species: Alexi Rodriguez

    Some insect species have been proposed for endangered species status for the first time, according to Alexi Rodriguez of the Almond Alliance.  One such insect is the monarch butterfly, which has little overlap with agriculture except for coastal sites in winter.

    A 2018 petition proposed adding four bumblebee species.

    Rodriguez said that if growers take reasonable, research-based steps to support pollinators, they will be immune to prosecution if incidental harm occurs.  The steps include using IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and planting pollinator habitat.

    Questions from the Audience

    Q: Is it worth getting mason bees to complement honeybees?

    A: Yes — blue orchard bees (a type of mason bee) — but you have to contract it separately.  They fly in colder temperatures and in rain.

    Q: Was there a bee shortage in 2025?

    A: That was not studied, but growers were saying that they did not get the number of frames they contracted for.  It’s possible that insufficient bees caused the lower yield last year, because everything else was good in 2025.

    Q: What about indoor cold storage of bees in empty warehouses to break the varroa mite cycle?

    A: It did not go well when tried in Kern County.

    Q: Does supplementing the almond orchard with pollen help with pollination?

    A: There is no research on that, but it is unlikely to help based on flower anatomy and the need for insects to get into the blooms to move pollen.

    Q: Does it help to move hives around during pollination?

    A: Yes, but it is a tradeoff economically due to the cost of labor to move the hives.  The most important variable is having morning sun on the hive to warm the bees enough to fly.  The bees will fly over the entire acre once they are warm.

    Q: What is a fair contract between grower and beekeeper?

    A: Eight frames average per hive; four to five frames minimum, 60% coverage.

    Q: Do herbicides impact bees?

    A: There is no research on that, but herbicides are not needed during bloom anyway.

    For more information about preparing for pollination, see Honeybee ABC.  – By Nancy Power, PhD, Assistant Editor, Pacific Nut Producer

  • Nematode Management Tips for Tree Nut Growers

    Nematodes can be a headache for growers. Luckily, ways to manage them are being researched and developed. At the Malcolm Media Tree & Vine Expo and in an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, Andreas Westphal with UCCE Riverside discusses nematode management. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • 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

  • Monitoring Spider Mites in Almond Orchards

    Almond growers are all too familiar with the challenges posed by pests in their orchards. Despite not being on the top of a grower’s concern list, spider mites can inflict serious damage to an almond orchard, and rather quickly if populations get out of control. However, effective monitoring and the use of beneficial insects can play a crucial role in managing these pests and ensuring a healthy almond harvest.

    Understanding Spider Mites
    Spider mites are tiny arachnids that thrive in warm, dry conditions, making almond orchards an ideal habitat. These pests feed on the leaves of almond trees, causing stippling, yellowing, and eventually leaf drop. Severe infestations can lead to reduced photosynthesis, weakened trees, and lower yields. Therefore, it is essential to keep a close eye on spider mite populations and take timely action to prevent economic losses.

    The Role of Beneficial Insects
    One of the most effective natural treatments for spider mites is the use of beneficial insects, such as six-spotted thrips. These tiny predators feed on spider mites and can significantly reduce their populations. David Haviland, a University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) entomology farm advisor, emphasizes the importance of relying on six-spotted thrips for mite management. These thrips are highly adaptable, reproduce quickly, and provide numerous operational benefits. They occur naturally, are free, and do not leave residues, pre-harvest intervals, or worker safety issues to worry about.

    In addition to six-spotted thrips, other natural enemies of spider mites include predatory mites and lady beetles. These beneficial insects can help maintain a balance in the orchard ecosystem, reducing the need for chemical interventions. However, it is crucial to monitor the populations of both spider mites and their natural enemies to make informed decisions about pest management.

    Effective Monitoring Techniques
    Monitoring for spider mites involves regular inspections of the orchard, particularly in dusty or water-stressed areas where mites are most likely to thrive. Checking on the underside of leaves for the presence of spider mites is the most effective way to identify them in the orchard. According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program, growers should check for spider mites at least weekly during the warmer months. Presence-absence leaf sampling is a useful tool for determining whether treatment is necessary. If there are 1.4 mites per leaf or 38% of leaves are infested, it is time to consider intervention to prevent the population from reaching damaging levels.

    To-Do List for Growers

    1. Seasonal Monitoring: From March to early May, monitor orchards for both predators and spider mites at least once every two weeks. Increase monitoring frequency to at least once a week from June to September when mite populations can rapidly increase.
    2. Weekly Inspections: Regularly inspect your orchard, especially in dusty or water-stressed areas, to check for spider mites. Use a hand lens to detect mite eggs, hatched spider mites, and predators.
    3. Presence-Absence Leaf Sampling: Use this method to determine if treatment is necessary. If there are 1.4 mites per leaf or 38% of leaves are infested, take action.
    4. Monitor Beneficial Insects: Assess the populations of natural enemies like six-spotted thrips, predatory mites, and lady beetles to ensure they are sufficient to control spider mites.
    5. Consider Selective Miticides: If natural predators are not enough, consider using selective miticides that are less harmful to beneficial insects.
    6. Follow ABC Guidelines: Utilize resources and guidelines provided by the Almond Board of California (ABC) for effective mite management.

    For more detailed information on monitoring spider mites, growers can refer to the guidelines provided by the UC ANR IPM Program here.

    Spider mites could pose a significant threat to almond orchards, but effective monitoring and the use of beneficial insects can help manage these pests without increasing inputs. By relying on natural predators like six-spotted thrips and other beneficial insects, growers can reduce the need for chemical interventions, lower costs and promote a healthier orchard ecosystem. — By the Almond Board of California

  • Considerations for Determining Which Almond Varieties to Plant

    As growers, both new and experienced, continued to add to the record almond acreage in California, many are constantly evaluating what varieties to plant.  With many new varieties on the market and consumer trends continuing to evolve, there is a lot to consider in variety selection.  Check out this brief interview with Martin Pohl from Hughson Nut Company as he shares his insights from a processor’s perspective.  Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Almond Alliance of California Reports Win on Biomass

    [wpdevart_youtube]yk2TH3z-er8[/wpdevart_youtube]

    At Pacific Nut Producer’s Annual Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock and Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo in Fresno, Kelly Covello from the Almond Alliance of California provided an update on their ongoing efforts to advocate on behalf of the industry in Sacramento & Washington. She reported success in getting the state to utilize outgoing almond orchards in biomass power plants. Watch Covello’s brief interview for more details and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.