Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Category: Economics

  • In-Season Orchard Hedging to Cut Labor Costs & Maintain Double-Density Hazelnut Planting

    Ag labor and other input costs continue rising, while the returns growers are getting for their crops just aren’t keeping up. Pacific Nut Producer Editor Matthew Malcolm met with Oregon hazelnut grower Jimmy Lee to discuss how he’s combatting the rising costs with new innovative farming practices and maintaining his double-density planted orchard. Watch this brief interview and read more about Jimmy in the January issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor George Packing Company for their industry support.

  • Alicia Rockwell Elected New Almond Board of California Chair

    The Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors elected Alicia Rockwell to be the new chair of the Board. Rockwell will take over the role on Jan. 1 from Alexi Rodriguez, who will begin a new role of her own on Jan. 1 as CEO of the Almond Alliance.

    Rockwell is the Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer for Blue Diamond Growers. Brandon Rebiero, a co-founder of Gold Leaf Farming, was elected the Board’s vice chair.

    “I’m honored to have the trust of my fellow board members,” said Rockwell. “The board is a strong group of experienced and impressive individuals who care deeply about our industry. Together, we will continue to address industry challenges and build a prosperous future for the California almond industry.”

    The ABC Board sets policy and approves budgets in major areas, including global market development, production research, public relations and advertising, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control and food safety.

    ABC is a Federal Marketing Order dedicated to promoting California almonds to domestic and international audiences through marketing efforts and by funding, ensuring food safety and promoting studies about almonds’ health benefits and state of the art agricultural practices to aid growers and to further the industry’s efforts in environmental stewardship.

  • CA Walnut Commission Awarded $7 Million in 2nd Round of USDA’s Regional Ag Promotion Program

    The California Walnut Commission, representing more than 4,600 California walnut growers, mostly multi-generational family farms, and approximately 70 handlers, is pleased to announce it has been awarded $7 million in funding as part of the Regional Agricultural Program’s (RAPP) second round of grants to expand distribution and sales of California Walnuts in international markets.

    The CWC thanks Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Foreign Agricultural Service for enacting the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program and awarding a second round of funding to help support the expansion of California Walnuts and other US commodity exports into emerging markets. This additional funding will allow the industry to expand programs into new markets, as well as boost activities in existing strategic export markets currently funded through the Market Access Program (MAP), with the goal of increasing distribution and driving sales of high-quality California walnuts globally.

    “Funding from the Market Access Program has been essential to our success over the years, and the additional funding from the RAPP program will provide more resources to drive new distribution and grow sales for California walnuts in even more new and exciting ways” said Robert Verloop, CEO for California Walnut Commission. “We’re eager for the opportunity of RAPP to further expand sales of and market access for California walnuts.”

    About the California Walnut Commission

    The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 4,600 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWC, established in 1987, promotes usage of walnuts through domestic and export market development activities as well as supports health research with consuming walnuts.

    To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visit walnuts.org.

  • American Pistachio Growers Receives Federal Funding to Fuel Global Market Growth

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service announced recently that funds were available via the Regional Agricultural Promotions Program (RAPP) to drive exports of U.S. commodities.  American Pistachio Growers is the recipient of $3.25 million dollars of federal grant funds to drive demand of pistachios worldwide.

    “American Pistachio Growers is very grateful for these funds, “said Scott Fryer, Vice President of Global Marketing. “This will go a long way in our efforts to drive demand in key countries, and drive growth for the pistachio industry. We are also thankful to our growers. Because of their contributions to our organization, we can seek and apply for these grants, turning their investment into more efforts to drive demand.”

    These funds, along with other federal marketing grant funds, now mark over $8 million dollars in marketing grants over the past year.  Funds for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program can be spent over a multi-year period, at the discretion of the recipient.

    American Pistachio Growers is the non-profit trade association representing more than 865 growers and member processors in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

  • Walnuts Deemed “Healthy” By the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

    Walnuts meet the updated definition for a “healthy” food based on the important role they play in recommended dietary patterns, according to the much-anticipated announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detailing a new definition for foods that can be identified or labeled as “healthy.”1

    This announcement, originally previewed in 2022 on the heels of the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, is a significant step toward ensuring food labeling is consistent with the most up-to-date nutrition scientific evidence and Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations to support individuals and families in building healthy eating patterns.

    “The inclusion of walnuts in the new “healthy” definition affirms consumers’ belief that walnuts are a healthy food.* It also aligns with decades of nutrition research reinforcing the important contributions walnuts can make in a healthy lifestyle,” shared Robert Verloop, chief executive officer for the California Walnut Commission.

    “It’s simple. Just adding walnuts to Americans’ daily diet can potentially have wide-ranging positive impacts.”

    The 2020-2025 DGA encourage consumers to choose foods that are nutrient-dense, such as nuts, including walnuts. However, close to two-thirds of Americans do not meet the recommended intake for nuts and seeds.2,3

    Encouraging walnuts as a substitution for food choices higher in saturated fat can help support recommendations to replace intake of saturated with unsaturated fats, as strongly advised by the recently-released 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report.4 The total fat in walnuts (18g) is mostly comprised of polyunsaturated fats (13g/oz), including omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz), an essential fatty acid with potential to support heart health and cognition.5-7 Walnuts are the only tree nut to provide an excellent source of omega-3 ALA.8 

    “In my 20 plus years of practicing nutrition at a major medical institution, I have seen trends go in and out for what the public considers healthy. But what has always been foundational is the role plant-based foods like walnuts play in supporting health. Walnuts are one nut I find consistently meets the variable needs of patients in my practice,” states Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN and author. “In practice, I focus on evidence-based approaches to reducing chronic disease risk, weight management, and improvements in metabolic health.”

    Walnuts qualifying as a “healthy” food is just one major milestone in a series of similar recognitions. A recent ruling, earlier in 2024, by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), ‘Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,’ will make it easier for schools to serve plant-protein rich meals and snacks that include walnuts. Using ingredients like walnuts can help reformulate meal favorites to be healthier, while also supporting vegetarian diets and other food preferences.  Additionally, for the first time, states are now allowed to include walnut butter as part of the latest WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)package updates. 

    These new inclusions and acknowledgements of the role of walnuts in healthy dietary patterns are due, in part, to the more than 30 years of evidence-based global health and nutrition research funded by the California Walnut Commission. This growing body of research has uncovered many potential benefits of consuming walnuts within healthy dietary patterns across various ages and life stages to maximize health and well-being, including promising research into heart health, cognition, cancer, gut health, body weight, and reproductive health.

    Walnuts are extremely versatile and convenient, adding nutrition to dishes at every meal, as well as simple snacks. For more information about the nutritional benefits of California walnuts, along with delicious recipe inspiration, please visit walnuts.org.

    About the California Walnut Commission 

    The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 4,600 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers’ family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWC, established in 1987, promotes usage of walnuts through domestic and export market development activities as well as supports health research with consuming walnuts.

    To explore recipes and learn more about California walnut growers, industry information and health research, visitwalnuts.org.

    * California Walnut Board 2021 Consumer A&U

    References

    1. Public Inspection: Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term ‘Healthy.’” Federal Register, 2024, www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-29957/food-labeling-nutrient-content-claims-definition-of-term-healthy. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
    2. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
    3. Analysis of What We Eat in America, NHANES 2013-2016, ages 1 and older, 2 days dietary intake data, weighted. Recommended Intake Ranges: Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Patterns.
    4. 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2024. Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    5. Sala-Vila A, Fleming J, Kris-Etherton P, Ros E. Impact of alpha-linolenic acid, the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, on cardiovascular disease and cognition [published ahead of print February 16, 2022]. Advances in Nutrition. doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac016.
    6. Naghshi S, Aune D, Beyene J, et al. Dietary intake and biomarkers of alpha linolenic acid and risk of all cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ. 2021;375:n2213. doi:10.1136/bmj.n2213.
    7. Barceló-Coblijn G, Murphy EJ. Alpha-linolenic acid and its conversion to longer chain n3 fatty acids: Benefits for human health and a role in maintaining tissue n-3 fatty acid levels. Prog Lipid Res. 2009;48(6):355-74. Doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2009.07.002.
    8. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. Fdc.nal.usda.gov.

  • Can Whole Orchard Recycling Suppress Weed Establishment in New Orchards?

    Recent research has shown many potential benefits of utilizing whole orchard recycling (WOR) when removing an orchard. Instead of burning the wood produced in orchard removal, WOR involves chipping the wood from pulled trees and redistributing it back into the field using a chip or amendment spreader. This management technique has been mostly used in walnut orchards being followed by new walnut orchards. The conservation of the carbon in the wood benefits the soil by increasing nutrients available for the next crop, improving the soil’s water holding capacity and and enhancing microbial activity. After a recent evaluation of weed populations in a WOR trial in Yuba County, it appears that weed suppression in the first few years after orchard establishment at a WOR site may be yet another benefit to this practice.

    A WOR trial in Yuba County, led by UCCE Yuba-Sutter Farm Advisor Clarissa Reyes, was initiated by removing and chipping a mature walnut orchard at removal in late fall of 2023. The chips were spread at 60 tons/acre in winter 2023 in a grid design to allow comparison of orchard performance between areas with chips and areas without chips (control). RX1 rootstock trees were planted in April of 2024 and budded to Wolfskill walnuts in September 2024. In the first three months after orchard establishment, weed suppression was observed in the plots that had been covered in wood chips. Weed populations were surveyed in each plot in the orchard in August 2024.

    A representative three foot by twenty foot strip within the rows between two trees was evaluated for each plot within the trial. The percent of soil covered by weeds was estimated, and the dominant weed species were recorded. The plots treated with wood chips averaged 14% weed cover, while the control plots with no wood chips averaged 58% weed cover. This difference was significant and very visually apparent.

    In addition to difference in coverage of weeds, different species were observed in the chipped versus control plots. Almost all plots, regardless of treatment, had common knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum) and littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor). Control plots also had established populations of crabgrasses (Digitaria spp.), hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) and fringed willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum). It is interesting that hairy fleabane, a particularly difficult weed to manage with known herbicide resistance, was suppressed in plots with chips. The possible mechanism of suppression for this particular weed could be physical, in that the seeds cannot germinate or seedlings are unable to break through the thick layer of mulched wood chips. Hairy fleabane has also been shown to be susceptible to allelopathy from juglone, produced by walnuts. There is no specific evidence indicating that the juglone in the soil from the wood chips is the control mechanism, but it may be worth evaluating in future trials.

    We expect that over time, the weed suppression will decrease and eventually there will be no difference between the chipped plots and the controls. However, reduced weed pressure in the critical first few years after orchard establishment may prove to be a valuable benefit to WOR. Annual weed surveys will continue in coming years of the Yuba County WOR trial. — By Becky Wheeler-Dykes, UCCE Glenn Orchard Systems & Weed Ecology Farm Advisor

  • Almond Alliance Responds to Proposed Endangered Species Protection for Monarch Butterfly

    Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to the proposed listing rule, its purpose is to reverse the population decline of this pollinator species.

    While we have concerns about the potential impacts of this listing on growers and their operations, we are committed to working with the USFWS to develop solutions that protect the monarch while supporting our growers.

    As a leader in pollinator conservation, almond growers have made significant contributions, including:

    • Leading the nation in Bee Friendly Farming certification, ensuring sustainable and supportive environments for pollinators. In fact, 86% of all U.S. bee-friendly certified farms are almond farms.

    • Providing more than 35,000 acres of permanent pollinator habitat managed by family-owned farms.

    • Additionally, 20% of California almond orchards plant blooming cover crops between tree rows to provide more than 130,000 acres of seasonal pollinator nectar resources.

    California’s working lands will be essential to the monarch butterfly’s recovery. Almond growers have shown that proactive pollinator conservation and sustainable farming can coexist. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with USFWS to accelerate the monarch’s recovery while continuing to provide benefits to ecosystems, farming communities, and sustainable food production.

    Almond Alliance is the leading authority in state and national policy, championing American almond farmers, industry, and community for the continued global growth, innovation, and success of American almonds and agriculture.

    Established in 1980, the Almond Alliance is a non-profit trade association with a local and international network of almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers, and allied businesses. The Alliance is dedicated to providing resources and solutions for our members, ensuring industry success and growth opportunities. Learn more at almondalliance.org.

  • New Marketing Assistance Now Available for Specialty Crop Producers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs, is now accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters.

    “Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs relative to non-specialty crop producers due to the perishability of fruits, (nuts), vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Through this marketing assistance program, we can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets by providing specialty crop producers the financial support needed to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”

    MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:

    • Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;
    • Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
    • Packaging to prevent damage;
    • Moving perishables to market quickly; and
    • Higher labor costs.

    MASC Eligibility

    To be eligible for MASC, a producer must be in business at the time of application, maintain an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.

    MASC covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:

    • Fruits (fresh, dried);
    • Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
    • Tree nuts;
    • Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;
    • Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and
    • Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.

    Applying for MASC

    Eligible established specialty crop producers can apply for MASC benefits by completing the FSA-1140, Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program Application, and submitting the form to any FSA county office by Jan. 8, 2025. When applying, eligible specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for calendar year 2023 or 2024.

    New specialty crop producers are required to certify 2025 expected sales, submit an FSA-1141 application and provide certain documentation to support reported sales i.e., receipts, contracts, acreage reports, input receipts, etc. New producers are those who began producing specialty crops in 2023 or 2024 but did not have sales due to the immaturity of the crop, began producing specialty crops in 2024 but did not have a complete year of sales or will begin growing specialty crops in 2025.

    MASC applicants, established and new, must also submit the following information to FSA if not already on file at the time of application:

    • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
    • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
    • Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information.  
    • Form FSA-942, Certification of Income from Farming, Ranching and Forestry Operations, if applicable, for the producer and members of entities.
    • A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.
    • Other Documentation if requested by FSA to support reported specialty crop sales.

    Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms or producers who may be new to conducting business with FSA, can contact their local FSA county office.

    For MASC program participation, eligible specialty crop sales only include sales of commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the United States by the producer. The portion of sales derived from adding value to a specialty crop (such as sorting, processing, or packaging) is not included when determining eligible sales. Further explanation of what is considered by FSA for specialty crop sales as well as an online MASC decision tool and applicable program forms, are available on the MASC program webpage.

    MASC Payments

    For established specialty crop growers, those who certify crop sales in 2023 or 2024, FSA will calculate MASC payments based on the producer’s total specialty crop sales for the calendar year elected by the producer. Payments for new producers will be based on their expected 2025 calendar year sales. Payment calculation details and examples are available on the MASC webpage or related questions can be directed to local FSA county office staff.

    FSA will issue MASC payments after the end of the application period. If demand for MASC payments exceeds available funding, MASC payments may be prorated, and the payment limitation of $125,000 may be lowered.  If additional funding is available after MASC payments are issued, FSA may issue an additional payment.

    Specialty crop producers interested in applying for MASC benefits, are encouraged to review the program fact sheet for detailed information on program eligibility, required documentation, payment calculations and more.

    More Information

    Additional information on MASC is available in the Notice of Funding Availability, which went on public inspection in the Federal Register on Dec. 9, 2024.

    FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

  • Electrical Weed Control (EWC) in Organic Almonds and Blueberries

    Two years ago, I shared my first blog about the Zasso electrical weed control (EWC) unit—a tractor-mounted device powered by the tractor’s PTO. (My first blog about the basic of EWC and unit specifications)

    In spring 2023, we established two organic blocks, one with almonds and one with blueberries, to further evaluate the weed control efficacy and crop safety of the Zasso unit in newly established tree and berry systems. In these trials, we tested different combinations of speed and power to control the total current/energy flowing into the ground. This approach is similar to herbicide trials where we often test at different rates to evaluate crop injury (e.g., 2X, 4X rates). Both experiments included comparisons with standard organic weed control practices such as organic herbicide (Suppress EC), mowing, and hand weeding.

    In the blueberry experiment, we also applied two mulching types (sawdust and plastic), and each plot with different mulching types was treated with all the EWC treatments to evaluate the interactions between these two practices. Since blueberries are planted on berms, we only treated the berm shoulders with EWC (Figure 2).

    Figure 1. Organic blueberry field with three different mulching types as treatments
    Figure 2. EWC treating the shoulder of the sawdust mulching blueberry plot

    2023 Findings

    During the 2023 growing season, all EWC treatments showed promising weed control results. In the almond block, the highest-energy EWC treatment kept the floor weed-free for 35-40 days. In the blueberry block, where we used one drip line (versus two in the almond block), the shoulders stayed dry for most of the summer. After our first EWC application in late May (almond) and early June (blueberry), weed pressure in all EWC-treated blueberry plots remained low throughout the season, with some plots staying weed-free even longer than the same treatment in the almond block. We measured tree height, trunk diameter, and blueberry plant canopy volume, finding no significant differences in plant growth across treatments for either crop.

    Figure 3. EWC in organic almond block

    2024 Focus

    In 2024, we continued measuring growth data and collected soil samples for soil health analysis in both blocks. One of my research goals is to address a key grower concern about this technique by assessing the impact of EWC on soil microbes. While soil physical properties should remain unchanged (due to no soil disturbance), soil microbes—which play a crucial role in nutrient cycling—could be sensitive to electric shocks and surface temperature spikes. Then, we will look at how two years of more than 10 EWC applications will impact weed species distribution.

    Figure 4. EWC untreated (top) and treated (bottom) almond plots in April 2024

    2025 Plans 

    Coming into 2025, we plan to continue the blueberry and almond work on campus and also conduct additional research in growers’ fields and test it out in additional tree crops. We will continue to collect weed control efficacy data on an array of common orchard weeds in California. Lastly, we plan to start an experiment to examine how soil moisture at the time of EWC treatment affects the weed control efficacy and whether there are any effects from different irrigation regimes.

    Figure 6. Equipment testing in non crop area before EWC treatment in organic almond and blueberry at UC Davis.

    Frequently Asked Questions about EWC Technology

    Q: Are there any safety concerns with EWC?

    A: Yes, since this is a high-voltage application targeting above-ground vegetation, the circuit can create arcing and potentially cause fires. The manufacturer requires scouting behind the tractor during applications. Multiple EWC applications and mowing operations over a season leave dead vegetation on the ground, which can easily ignite, especially at higher power settings. We have noticed a seasonal pattern, with more fires occurring in fall than summer, and we are still investigating the causes.

    Q: How does soil moisture affect EWC operation?

    A: Soil moisture is an important factor. Soil that is too wet can cause generator overload by drawing too much energy. In contrast, overly dry soil has high electrical resistance, reducing current flow through plants. Our unit includes a setting to adjust power based on soil moisture, so selecting the right setting is essential for effective application. This is an area of ongoing research in California and with our collaborators in Oregon and New York.

    Q: How do different weed species respond to EWC?

    A: The weed growth stage matters more than species. EWC is effective on most weeds at the seedling stage but start losing efficacy with mature or flowering weeds that are woody or have less tissue moisture because electrical conductance is lower. Grasses can be challenging if they are matured and developed multiple tillers, as central tillers may avoid direct contact with the EWC applicator electrodes.

    Q: How effective is EWC on perennial weeds?

    A: EWC can manage bindweed and yellow nutsedge with multiple applications throughout the season. Regrowth and reemergence can occur if the vegetation does not directly contact with the electrode due to obstacles like soil clumps or overlapping plants. We are running an experiment to quantify perennial weed regrowth and reemergence.

    Q: Is this unit available on the market?

    A: Zasso has partnered with New Holland to bring this technology to the US. Please check out their website https://yellowblueandyou.newholland.com/en-gb/pf-global-2024/xpower-xps to look at the unit for the vineyard (XPower XPS). We will have a vineyard trial in 2025 in partnership with the farm operation and equipment distributor to evaluate the cost-efficiency of EWC in a large scale site.

    Since I have been working and studying this unit for two years, I truly believe it is a valuable option for organic berry and tree fruit and nut production. It can also become an alternative to some of the post-emergent herbicides used in integrated pest management (IPM) programs in sustainable agriculture.

    Our EWC project is funded by USDA NIFA Organic Research and Education Initiative. Please check out our website: https://eorganic.info/node/35946 for interviews and research updates from our collaborators: Moretti Lab at Oregon State University and Sosnoskie Lab at Cornell University. We are testing the same unit but on different crops. We also want to thank New Holland for the tractor support. — By Tong Zhen & Brad Hansen, UC Davis

  • Postharvest State of the California Walnut Industry Highlights Improving Market

    Did you miss the State of the Walnut Industry address at Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo in Fresno or the Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock?  Following his presentation, Robert Verloop, CEO of the California Walnut Board & Commission met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share highlights from this year’s walnut harvest and improving global market conditions. Watch this brief interview, and read the full State of the Industry report in the coming issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.