Almonds originated in ancient China and Central Asia centuries ago. The almond is thought of as an ancestor of stone fruit such as peaches, plums and nectarines and is botanically considered a fruit.
How and when did almonds come to California?
In the mid-1700’s the Franciscan Padres brought almonds to California. The first plantings along the coastline were not successful, however, by 1870, research and crossbreeding had already developed some of today’s well-known varieties.
By the early 1900’s, perfect growing conditions were found in the Central Valley of California and the almond industry started to establish itself. Today, over 450,000 acres are in production with more than 6,000 individual growers producing California’s largest tree nut crop. California is the only place in North America where almonds are commercially grown.
What conditions does it take to grow almonds?
Growing almonds is a year round business. The fruit needs the hot summers and cool winters, some rain and irrigation, and no sub zero temperatures. The trees are not self-pollinating, so every orchard must have more than one variety. Bee hives are placed in each orchard during bloom to help pollinate the almond trees.
How does one know when to harvest the almonds?
After the bloom the petals drop. The leaves grow, soon the fuzzy gray- green “fruit” appears. The hull is what you see and it continues to harden and grow. Around July it begins to split open. Between mid-August and late October (depending on the variety and growing conditions) the split widens which exposes the shell and this allows the nut to dry. The whole nut and stem finally separate and shortly before harvest, the hull opens completely. The almonds are ready to harvest. Right before harvest the orchard is prepared by sweeping the ground to clear away debris. Mechanical tree “shakers” are brought in to carefully shake the trees, which knock the nuts to the ground. The nuts are allowed to dry before they are swept into rows and picked up by machine. They are then transported to the huller.
Are there different varieties of almonds?
There are many different varieties of almonds. No single type is exclusively characteristic of California almonds. There are three major marketing categories in the industry: Nonpareil, California and Mission. Each of these varieties has specific advantages in different applications. For more information about the many almond varieties and applications, please check the web site of the California Almond Board @ www.almondsarein.com.
Do almonds have any nutritional value and aren’t they full of fat and cholesterol?
Almonds do have nutritional value. A one-ounce serving (approximately 1/4 cup or 30g) provides:
• 7 grams of protein
• an excellent source of magnesium
• an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin E
• riboflavin
• phosphorus and copper
• no sodium
• no cholesterol
Almonds contain fat, but their fat is mostly unsaturated - including 60% monounsaturated fat, the “heart healthy” variety.
Where do California almonds go?
We sell our almonds all over the world. About 75% of California’s almond production is exported. Germany is the largest market for almonds, followed by Japan. Other major markets are the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Canada, India and Spain.
What can almonds be used for?
You can find many uses for almonds. They’re great as a snack. They can be roasted and flavored and some varieties can be blanched. They are available chopped, diced and even slivered.
The Almond Board of California has a consumer recipe file of delicious almond recipes to try at home.
email:sales@stewartandjasper.com