Kern County has once again taken the lead in California for the removal of almond orchards over the past year, marking a potential third consecutive year of reduced overall almond acreage in the state. This trend is seen as an adjustment in response to challenging market conditions experienced in recent years. Despite these reductions, there are indications of a growing global demand for almonds as supply tightens, which could be beneficial for the local industry that has observed a rise in prices in recent months after facing elevated costs for years.
According to data from Land IQ, commissioned by the Almond Board of California, Kern County removed about 5,630 hectares (13,895 acres) of almond orchards in the recently concluded crop year, excluding around 3,036 hectares (7,504 acres) classified as "potentially abandoned". This makes Kern County the leader in orchard removals for the second consecutive year. Land IQ's report revealed a slight decrease of less than 0.7%, or approximately 3,642 hectares (9,000 acres), in California's total bearing acreage, with a notable 25% reduction, equating to about 19,020 hectares (47,000 acres), in non-bearing-acres-planted-since 2021.
The Almond Board of California highlighted that this year's net loss of acreage is less than the previous year but more than in 2022, marking the first instance of three consecutive years of net acreage decline in California since at least 1995. ABC CEO Clarice Turner commented on the trend, stating, "Three straight years of decreased acreage and sizeable orchard removals reflect a trend toward lower overall California almond acreage." Turner also noted the strong performance in shipments, with over 200 million pounds shipped in 11 consecutive months for the first time, and a total shipment exceeding production by 300 million pounds in the past crop year.
Almonds remain Kern County's most extensive farmland occupant and its fourth highest-grossing crop, generating $892 million for growers last year. Despite the recent price improvements, prices are still below the peak of about $3.50 per pound seen a decade ago. However, industry analysts like David Magaña from RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness and Michael Easterbrook from Stratamarkets have observed a positive trend in almond prices, with potential for further increases. Richard Andonian from Olam Edible Nuts also reported a firming market, supported by strong domestic shipments and stable export levels.
Source: Bakersfield