Nut Talk

California almond acreage surges
(5/3/2007)
California's almond acreage continues to grow, according to the latest acreage report from the California Agricultural Statistics Service in Sacramento.The state had 730,000 acres in 2006, a 6 percent increase from 690,000 acres in 2005, according to the report.Bearing acreage was 585,000 acres and non-bearing was 145,000 acres. Preliminary bearing acreage for 2007 is estimated at 615,000 acres.Nonpareil continued to be the leading variety, followed by Carmel and Butte. Monterey, Fritz and Padre varieties showed significant acreage increases.Kern, Merced, Stanislaus and Fresno were the leading counties. These four counties had 64 percent of the acreage in 2006 compared with 63 percent in 2005.