Almond production in California is expected to drop 10% to 1.3 million tons this year because of high temperatures and drought. Apart from this, the return of La Niña conditions could bring another weak crop next year.
The crop shortfall threatens to drive almond prices sharply higher, with some growers expecting a price jump of 50% or more from last year’s $1.83 per pound. Almond prices’ last big spike, to $4 per pound, occurred in 2014 in the wake of another deep California drought.
California grows virtually all the almonds cultivated in the US, and accounts for 79% of global supply. Australia is the second-biggest producing country, but production gains there failed to offset declines in California, and global almond production is expected to decline by 8%, according to USDA estimates.
Source: gro-intelligence.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
