Despite a slightly delayed harvest because of winter and spring rainfall and some cooler-than-usual temperatures good volume shipments appear to be coming for pistachios, almonds and walnuts in California.
Wonderful brand pistachios was delayed about two weeks and harvest will peak in late September and conclude in October. The company represents 300 growers.
The American Pistachio Growers of Fresno, CA reports industrywide, California pistachio growers are expected to ship 1.3 billion pounds of the nuts this year.
Pistachios are an alternate-bearing crop, and 2023 will be an on year. Because of new acreage, the state’s pistachio production is expected to reach 2 billion pounds by 2030. About 70% of the crop is exported, largely to the European Union and China.
The almond harvest is in full swing at Mariani Nut Co., Winters, CA and harvest should continue through October.
California’s walnut production for 2023 is forecast at 790,000 tons, an increase of 5% from the 752,000 tons produced in 2022, according to an early September estimate from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The forecast is based on 385,000 bearing acres — a 4% drop from 2022’s estimated 400,000 bearing acres.
Mariani’s walnut harvest should run from September to November, and the company will harvest California pecans in November.
NASS estimated that California’s 2023 almond crop will come in at 2.6 billion meat pounds, 1% above last year’s 2.57 billion pounds.