This year’s California almond crop is forecasted to exceed 2 billion pounds, according to the California Almond Objective Measurement Report by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service — Pacific Regional Office (NASS/PRO).
Listen to the report with Almond Board President and CEO Richard Waycott.
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From the Almond Board of California:
Based on 1 million bearing acres, the objective forecast for the 2017 crop is 2.25 billion meat pounds. Almond Board of California funds the annual forecast administered by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Following the Subjective Forecast each year, the Objective Report is the second and final forecast of almond production, providing almond growers and handlers information about the projected harvest size to direct business decisions for the year.
“Almond trees thrive in our state because California is home to the world’s most efficient almond growers, who continually improve farming practices through research and innovation,” said Richard Waycott, ABC president and CEO, in response to the announcement. “It’s one of the few places on earth with a Mediterranean climate perfect for growing them, so it’s no wonder we’ve been successfully growing them here for over 150 years.”
The National Agriculture Statistics Service said the latest crop forecast is up 2.3 percent compared to the May subjective forecast of 2.2 billion pounds. The estimate is up 5.1 percent from the 2016 crop production of 2.14 billion meat pounds.
The average nut set per tree is 5,714, down 7.2 percent from the 2016 almond crop. The Nonpareil average nut set is 5,717 up 2.4 percent compared to last year’s set. The average kernel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.57 grams, up 6.1 percent compared to the 2016 average weight of 1.48 grams.
About the Almond Board
Almonds from California are a natural, wholesome and quality food. The Almond Board of California promotes almonds through its research-based approach to all aspects of marketing, farming and production on behalf of the more than 6,000 almond growers and processors in California, many of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit Almonds.com or check out California Almonds on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and the California Almonds blog.