The new director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and the California Walnut Commission, Robert Verloop, who represents 4,600 growers and handlers, maintains that the walnut sector will navigate through the current challenges.
He maintains that he is optimistic about the future of the walnut industry, especially about untapped opportunities in the produce sector. “Final numbers are still pending but what goes to market will probably be close to 1.4, maybe 1.5 billion pounds. The crop itself, field level production, was up from last year, but with major damage. Some growers are reporting that upwards of 50% of their crop had suffered sunburn and sun wash to the point of non-marketability.”
Source: farmprogress.com