Almond production continues to grow

TERRA BELLA — The almond, the bitter-sweet seed confined within a furry hull has once again made it’s popularity known.

The nut — meats and hulls — ranked at number 10 in the County’s top commodity list, with a total gross production value of nearly $96 million.

For perspective, in 2002 the total gross production value for almonds was approximately $39 million and ranked at number 13. Fast-forward to 2009, the same commodity has nearly tripled in value.

Accounting for the major growth is popularity, Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Marilyn Kinoshita said.

“Almonds are very popular for their health benefits,” Kinoshita said.

The almond is known for its high protein, magnesium and potassium content. Research has also shown almonds may also help reduce LDL cholesterol levels, and protect against diabetes and heart disease.

Despite their popularity, almonds, like all crops, are always susceptible to the challenges that come with each season.

For Don Kisling, an almond grower in Terra Bella, the 2009 almond harvest did not bring him too many problems, besides dealing with the typical navel orange worm, mites and low prices early in the year.

Kisling, along with his wife, Nina, own 200 acres of almond orchards. Once harvested, the Kislings send the almonds east of Merced, where they are hulled, shelled and sold to Hilltop Farms.

“The almond harvest for 2009 was slightly down, as far as tons per acre, but not significantly,” Kinoshita said. “The price was quite a bit higher, 680 per ton — higher than the year before...the price of almonds made up for the slightly less yield per acre.”

The 2010 harvest has begun in the southern end of the county, according to the latest crop report.

This season has already brought its share of challenges for Kisling’s crop.

“We’ve had some problems with what we almond growers call the N.O.W., the navel orange worm, we’ve seen more than usual,” he said.

According to Dennis Haines, a staff biologist for the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, there are several reasons why a grower may have an increase in the pest.

“The pest is generally considered a scavenger worm, most of the time it has a broad host range. It eats all kinds of things such as dried fruit that were never raked and mummied nuts — fruit dried up on the trees. There are a lot of things for it to eat out there. The problem could be related to what is going on in the immediate environment,” Haines said.

Aside from the pest, Kisling looks forward to a good 2010 harvest.

The almond harvest is expected to last through September, perhaps into early October if the rain allows, Kinoshita said.

Contact Denise Madrid at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or at dmadrid@portervillerecorder.com.