Almond Living Magazine

New Year's Resolutions

We hope you’re enjoying 2015 to date. Here in almond-growing country, our trees soaked up some much-needed rain from the past month and are resting in dormancy before the upcoming bloom. Almond growers are preparing for the next season, and one of our new year’s resolutions at the Almond Board of California is to continue to provide updates here on the blog on the more than $2 million we spend each year on research to continually improve our industry’s role in topics like air and water quality, water management and pest management.

New research shows snacking on almonds instead of a high-carb snack reduced belly fat and other heart disease risk factors

Almonds have long been recognized for their heart health benefits, but new research suggests they may have benefits for your waistline as well. A new study just published in the Journal of the American Heart Association1 showed that snacking on 1.5 ounces of almonds every day vs. a muffin with the same number of calories not only reduced LDL and total cholesterol, but also reduced abdominal (belly) fat and waist circumference in study participants.

The State of an Orchard

Recently on a regional, agriculture-focused radio show here in California, almond grower Tom Rogers talked about the challenges and opportunities facing the almond industry today, with numerous examples from his own orchards. He touched on how he’s dealing with water shortages, and lessons he and his brother are learning about how they can irrigate most efficiently and effectively.

Study Shows How Almonds Lead to Jobs and Economic Opportunities for California

When it comes to the economic impacts of California almonds, maybe you?ve thought about the jobs on the farm and in the orchard, but did you know almonds also put people to work at hulling and shelling plants and manufacturing facilities, as well as generate jobs in supporting industries such as packaging and trucking? These employees then spend their hard-earned money at local restaurants and shops, on activities with their families, and any number of other goods and services in their community from groceries to new cars to school teachers.

VIDEO: A Scientific Approach to Environmental Stewardship

To the almond community, sustainable almond farming means relying on production practices that are economically viable and based on scientific research, common sense and a respect for the environment, neighbors and employees.

Congratulations to Our Research Partners and USDA Award Winners

Research is the foundation of the Almond Board of California’s sustainable farming program. Almond growers by nature are data-driven, adapting their production operations based on what they learn from research. The success of our industry lies in this approach. But we wouldn’t be able to do it without the dedication of researchers across the California public university system, which is why we are so excited to congratulate four of our partners at UC-Davis who have received national recognition for their water conservation work.