Almonds
Revised December 2023
Overview
California is the only state that produces almonds commercially. The 2022 almond crop totaled 2.5 billion pounds valued at $3.5 billion. (NASS) Per person consumption of almonds in the United States was down slightly in the 2021/2022 crop year at 2.15 pounds. (ABC)
Internationally, the United States remains the largest producer of almonds, harvesting 78 percent of the world's crop, followed by the European Union. California is the largest producer in the United States. (ABC)
Production
Encased in a tough, leathery hull and an inner, protective hard shell, almonds are mechanically shaken from the tree during the fall harvest and sent to handlers to be processed and marketed as a final product.
In 2022, there were approximately 7,600 growers, and 98 processors/handlers shipped 2.634 billion pounds of almonds (ABC).
Value-added Products
While the almonds themselves are the most used product, the flowers of the tree can also be eaten and used as garnish.
In the United States, the majority of almonds are consumed as ingredients in manufactured goods, including cereal and granola bars; the remainder are consumed as snacks, in in-home baking and at food service outlets.
The expanding consumer palate for international cuisines that use almonds and a growing Middle Eastern population may also help increase.
In addition, nut flours are expanding as an alternative to regular wheat flours in the gluten-free market. The non-dairy alternative market of almond milk is expanding, offering a low-fat, high-protein option for consumers.
New branded products and new uses of almonds in cereals, ice cream, confectionaries and baked goods have been introduced.
Another new use for almonds is processing the not-yet-ripe kernels of green almonds. They are harvested early, and the liquid kernels are used by chefs at gourmet restaurants to add a delicate taste to high-end dishes.
Almonds are either sold as in-shell or as processed, which can include shelling, dry roasting, blanching, slicing, and chopped and converted into paste (marzipan) or flavorings. The majority of almonds are shelled during processing, and the excess casings (the hull and shell) are used in the livestock industry for both feed and bedding material.
Exports/Imports
The United States is the dominant supplier of almonds. In 2021/2022, the country exported about 1.9 billion pounds of almonds. The top four countries that were recipients of United States almond exports in 2021/2022 were India, Spain, China and UAE. (ABC)
Nearly 70 percent of U.S. almonds are exported as shelled almonds, with the remainder being either unshelled or manufactured. (ABC)
The United States imported 22.2 million pounds of almonds in the 2021/2022 crop year. (ABC)
Financial
Helpful enterprise budgets for almonds:
- 2019 Sample Costs to Produce Almonds using Solid Set Sprinkler Irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley - North, University of California Cooperative Extension.
- 2019 Sample Costs to Establish and Orchard and Produce Almonds using Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation in the Sacramento Valley, University of California Cooperative Extension.
- “Leaves contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the season. Therefore, leaves should be managed and used rather than bagged or burned.” - See more at: https://www.morningagclips.com/recycled-leaves-make-inexpensive-mulch/?utm_content=articles&utm_campaign=NLCampaign&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_term=newsletteredition&utm_medium=email#sthash.ww0y442J.dpuf
Sources
Almond Almanac, Almond Board of California (ABC), 2022 - This annual publication summarizes the production statistics of the California almond industry.
Tree Nuts: World Markets & Trade, Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA, October 2023.
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 2023
