Overview

Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

The earliest varieties of almonds are native to western Asia. Spanish explorers brought almonds to the United States, but commercial almond production did not begin to flourish until the 1900s, primarily in California’s Central Valley. By 1977, the United States had surpassed Spanish production, and by 2000, the country had became the leading supplier of almonds worldwide.

California is the only state that produces almonds commercially. In 2008 one of the largest almond crops on record was produced: 1.6 billion pounds valued at $2.2 billion (NASS). U.S. per person consumption of almonds has generally been increasing and reached 1.2 pounds in 2007 (ERS).

The United States remains the world’s largest producer of almonds, followed by Spain, Australia and Turkey (Almond Board of California). The bulk of the country's exports are marketed as shelled almonds, going to Spain and Germany. The largest market for unshelled almonds is India.  March 2009 ... Almonds
 

Marketing

• Almond Board of California - This California trade association is charged with promoting almonds. The Board seeks to expand the domestic and international markets for almonds through generic public relations, advertising and nutrition research.
• Almond Hullers and Processors Association (AHPA) - This Association is an almond hulling/shelling and processing industry trade association, dedicated to promoting growth and progress for all its members.
  
• Almonds, Tree Nuts: World Markets & Trade, Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA, 2009.
• Blue Diamond Growers
• Fruit and Tree Nuts Situation and Outlook Yearbook, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2008.
• Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), FAS, USDA, 2009.
• International Tree Nut Council (INC) - The INC's mission is to endorse activities that provide its membership new opportunities for increasing global consumption of almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.
• Noncitrus Fruits & Nuts, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA.
  
• Northern Nut Growers Association, Inc. (NNGA), http://www.icserv.com/nnga/ or http://www.northernnutgrowers.org/ or http://www.nutgrowing.org/ - The NNGA brings together people interested in growing nut trees. Their members include experts in nut tree cultivation, nut growers, nut tree breeders, nurserypeople and foresters. The NNGA Web site provides articles, research papers and monographs on nuts, nut tree growth and nut tree culture. A summary of some of these articles and a listing of books that can be borrowed is on the site. Also, there is an expert FAQ, as well as a listing of member services and products.
• Nuts, U.S. per capita food availability, ERS, USDA, 2008.
• Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association - This association provides a forum for the processors and manufacturers of peanuts, tree nuts and related products, and the suppliers of goods and services.
• Price for Whole Almond Hulls, Ag Marketing Service (AMS), USDA - Almond hulls are used in polishing media and other industrial products and applications.
• U.S. Almond Exports Set to Increase, Market News, FAS, USDA, 2007 - The demand for U.S. almonds overseas will strengthen as a result of continued market promotion campaigns, tariff reductions and measures that address food safety concerns.
• U.S. Almond Industry: The Biggest in the World, Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, ERS, USDA, 2005.

Production

• Almond, Fruit & Nut Research Information Center, University of California, Davis - Provides links to center research, as well as current crop information, publications, pomology-related cooperative extension and weather services.
• Almond Almanac, Almond Board of California, 2008 - This annual publication summarizes the production statistics of the California almond industry.
• Almonds, Integrated Pest Management Guidelines, University of California, Davis.
• The Authentic Almond Project, Cornucopia Institute, 2007.
• Bee-conomics and the Leap in Pollination Fees, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2006 - This paper describes honeybee supply and demand issues and the operation of the pollination market. Commercial pollination services are mostly provided by honeybees through a long-standing and well-organized market. Recently, honeybee pests and other problems have reduced available supplies, while expansion of almond acreage has increased peak-season demand. As a result, pollination fees have soared.
• China Agricultural Data, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2001 - Information on production, cost of production and trade.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Almonds, The New American Farmer, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), USDA - Describes two operations located in California.
• Billion-pound baby: high-octane almond orchards fuel sustained growth as Blue Diamond expands global market reach, Rural Cooperatives magazine, Rural Business - Cooperative Service, USDA, 2007.
• Hopeton Farms, The New American Farmer, SARE, NIFA, USDA, 2005 - The owners of this nut orchard in Snelling, California, grow almonds on 2,100 acres and organic walnuts on 65 acres.
• Stewart & Jasper Orchards: Jim and Jason Jasper, Newman, California, Stanislaus County Food System Case Studies.

Links checked February 2010.