Walnut harvest is pretty much wrapped up in the state. This year’s crop is forecast to be a record 575,000 tons, up 1 percent from last year.
Part of the reason for the uptick is that there are more acres of walnuts in production. But Dennis Balint, executive director and CEO of the California Walnut Board, said it’s important to remember that those producing trees were planted five to six years ago.
“So the increase has to do with the fact that the varieties that have been planted in recent years have higher yields in general than the older varieties that in some cases they’ve replaced,” Balint said.
New walnut acreage has mostly occurred in the state’s northern counties, he said.
Not only is this year’s crop larger, the nut quality is also a bit better than last year, Balint said. He estimated about 98 percent of the incoming nuts were considered “sound” or of excellent quality, which is a large percentage.
In terms of demand, China’s economic slump – and China itself having a large walnut crop this year – is expected to soften prices.
Matt Doyle, partner and vice president of sales in walnut processing at Carriere Family Farms in the community of Glenn, said last year China bought about 140 million pounds of walnuts. This year he said they’re looking at more like 100 million pounds.
“Some people are saying it’s going to be even less than that,” Doyle said. “So yeah, it’s hurt the overall demand picture for walnuts, and even almonds and some of the other nut commodities are struggling with some of the same issues.”
However, even with less demand from China, Doyle said he still expects farmers to see good prices this year.
“It just won’t be unbelievable or exceptional like it has been over the last two or three years,” he said.
According to Balint, the California Walnut Board already has its eye set on other customers. He said the board is launching an advertisement campaign aimed at the U.S. – the biggest buyer of California walnuts – to purchase more of this year’s bumper crop.