Almond Living Magazine

Without Honey Bees There Would Be No Almonds

It’s that time of year again! Between February and March, almond tree buds burst into beautiful blooms, and honey bees come to California Almond orchards. Every almond you eat exists because a honey bee pollinated an almond blossom. Almond trees are not self-pollinating, so they need some extra help to pollinate flowers and start the process of growing nuts. Honey...

KIND CEO Advocates for Honesty, Transparency in the Food System at 2017 Almond Conference

In December, the California Almond community gathered in Sacramento for the annual Almond Conference where hot topics in the industry were discussed. From bee health to marketing programs, sessions armed almond farmers and processors with information that will directly impact the decisions and activities in the orchard to benefit California Almonds for years to come. Daniel Lubetzky, Founder and CEO...

How Do You Define Sustainability?

At the 2017 Sustainable Agriculture Summit in November, farmers, retailers, marketers, and consumers affirmed the importance of sustainability, yet emphasized the role of different metrics, practices, and outcomes in how it’s defined. Definitions of sustainability differed depending on organizational values, business goals, and customer expectations. While no one formal definition was agreed upon, based on the dialogue during presentations and...

Biosolari-Say What?! New Research Combines Hulls, Shells, and Soil Health

The California Almond community is always innovating. At the 2017 Almond Conference, attendees got a preview of a new approach under investigation to control soil pests, improve soil health, and reuse almond coproducts. Almonds grow inside a shell, surrounded by a fuzzy outer hull – both of which are known as coproducts. Christopher Simmons, PhD, researcher at UC Davis, and...

Dormant Trees, Busy Farmers

It’s winter time and harvest is over, but the work for California Almond farmers isn’t done. Like many other types of trees, almond orchards lose their leaves during winter and rest, a time known as dormancy . Once the leaves have fallen from the branches, some farmers find that not all of the nuts were removed at harvest. After gauging...

Almond Board’s Sustainability Program Showcased at 2017 Sustainable Agriculture Summit

Almond Board of California’s (ABC) development and implementation of the California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP) was highlighted at the third annual Sustainable Agriculture Summit in November. At a session titled “Gaining Ground in Specialty Crop Sustainability Initiatives: Data-Driven Success Stories on Participating Engagement,” Spencer Cooper, ABC senior manager of irrigation and water efficiency, spoke about the program’s focus on education...