Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Category: Walnuts

  • Japan Lifts Aflatoxin Inspection Order on Walnuts

    On April 1, 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) suspended a mandatory aflatoxin inspection regime imposed on walnuts from the United States and other exporting countries. The suspension marks the first time Japan lifted a 100 percent inspection requirement for aflatoxin- vulnerable imports since 2004 when the current monitoring plan was implemented. In 2020, the United States exported $114 million of walnuts to Japan.

    General

    Japan’s Food Sanitation Act designates the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) as the country’s competent authority for food safety. In that role, MHLW develops and enforces aflatoxin regulations for domestic and imported food products. Since 1996, MHLW has mandated a 100 percent hold-and-test approach (called “inspection order”) for imported tree nuts, including walnuts, due to aflatoxin concerns. MHLW justified the inspection order as a response to violations of Japan’s aflatoxin action limit (i.e., 10 parts per billion for walnuts).

    According to Japan’s “Imported Foods Monitoring Plan”, MHLW may lift an aflatoxin-related inspection order for an exporting country, whether under a country-specific or global inspection order, if one of the following conditions is met:

    1. No aflatoxin violations for two years OR for one year or longer with 300 compliant shipments

    2. Bilateral discussion after exporting country

      -Completes root–cause investigation

      -Implements preventive measures based on investigation

      -Confirms effective implementation of the preventive measures through bilateral discussions, on–site inspections, and/or a series of non–violative inspection results.

      • On April 1, 2021, MHLW lifted the global aflatoxin inspection order on walnuts because all exporting countries satisfied the first condition described above. Therefore, MHLW’s inspection schedule for U.S. walnut exports to Japan now follows Schedule 1 of the Imported Foods Monitoring Plan.

        According to MHLW, a single aflatoxin violation in walnut imports from the United States would lead to the immediate resumption of the inspection order on U.S. walnut exports. On the other hand, aflatoxin violations in shipments from other exporting countries would not impact inspection frequency for U.S. walnuts. MHLW indicated that the suspension of the aflatoxin inspection order on walnuts represents the first time since the implementation of the monitoring plan in 2004 that MHLW lifted a global inspection order imposed on imports due to aflatoxin concerns. — By Tomohiro Kurai, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Pacific Nut Producer May Issue

    PNP521
    Pacific Nut Producer May issue

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    Contents of the May Issue:

    Matthew Malcolm Appointed Editor
    New Duties to Benefit PNP and the Nut Industry
    Erickson Family Farms & Three Erickson Partners
    Diversified Farmers Sustain Soils, Trees & Employees
    New Farm Advisor Spotlight
    Doug Amaral & Giulia Marino to Support Tree Nut Growers
    May Orchard Tasks
    Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Walnuts

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  • California Walnut Commission Electing New Members

    This year the California Walnut Commission will be holding elections for members and alternates for the term beginning September 1, 2021 and ending August 31, 2023.

    “The diversity of our growing and evolving membership brings valuable perspective to the industry. The CWC in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomes participation of women, minorities and people with disabilities,” said Michelle McNeil Connelly, CEO of the California Walnut Commission.

    Following are the specifications for the election:

    Every two years the Commission law provides for the nomination of 13 members and 13 alternates that will be appointed by the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

    The following is a list of the member and corresponding alternate positions for the Commission:

    Eight Producer Members (four from each district, see below)

    Four Handler Members

    One public member (nominated by 12 elected members)

    All producers and handlers participating in the election must complete a nomination form in order for their name to appear on the ballot. The nomination period is May 1-31. All producer candidates must return the form with at least 15 eligible grower signatures. All handler candidates must submit a petition with at least five other handler signatures.

    We anticipate that ballots will be mailed to growers and handlers in late June. The election results will most likely be announced in August.

    District 1 is comprised of counties in the state that lie north of a line drawn on the south boundaries of San Mateo, Alameda, San Joaquin, Calaveras and Alpine counties. District 2 consists of all other walnut producing counties in the state south of this boundary line.

    If you have any questions please feel free to call the CWC office at (916) 932-7070.

    About California Walnut Commission

    The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The CWC represents over 4,800 growers and over 90 handlers (processors) of California walnuts in export market development activities and conducts health research. The CWC is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). For more industry information, health research and recipe ideas, visit www.walnuts.org.

  • Millions in India See California Walnuts on TV

    Building on their mission to promote the benefits and many ways walnuts can play a role in the overall health of consumers in the U.S. and around the world, the California Walnut Commission (CWC) published results from their recent multimedia campaign in India. The campaign focused on educating consumers on how walnuts add valuable plant-based omega-3, protein and fiber to their diet. Here are the highlights:

     

    • The wide-reaching awareness campaign was live from November 2020 through February 2021 and was supported by print ads placed in leading consumer and trade publications, digital ads, as well as point-of-sale displays in major retailers across India.
    • The CWC engaged top influencers, including celebrity chefs, nutritionists and fitness experts, to provide inspiration and recipe ideas through their social channels.

     

    • The CWC utilized advertising on broadcast television from mid-December through mid-January, reaching 1.2 billion consumers weekly.

     

    This campaign highlights the value of the CWC and showcases its efforts to expand California walnuts use and consumption in India. “Despite high tariffs in this market, there is still an opportunity to build consumer demand for California Walnuts,” said Pamela Graviet, Senior Marketing Director, International, for the California Walnut Commission. “California Walnuts are a versatile ingredient, known for their high-quality, consistency and mild flavor, and the CWC is focused on building trade capacity to bring awareness to these attributes.”

  • Pacific Nut Producer April Issue

    PNP April Issue
    PNP April Issue

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    Contents of the April Issue:

    Harris Family Enterprises
    From Humble Beginnings to Successful Business
    Almond Alliance 39th Annual Convention
    Registration Is Open for This In-Person Event
    Orchard Views
    Patrick Cavanaugh Retires
    April Orchard Tasks
    Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Walnuts

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  • Managing Crown Gall in Walnut May Reduce Incidence of Thousand Cankers Disease

    As the pandemic precluded an in-person UC Tri-County Walnut Day this year, we’d like to share this informative video from Walnut Days past, as Thousand Cankers Disease continues to be an issue for California walnut growers.  If your walnut orchard is suffering from Thousand Cankers Disease, chances are that you may have other pathogens infecting your trees as well.  Watch this brief interview with UCCE Farm Advisor Elizabeth Fichtner and the late UC Davis Entomologist & Chemical Ecologist Steven Seybold as they share some key insights on disease management and prevention. Read more walnut IPM in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Trece for their industry support.

  • CA Walnuts to Launch Global Marketing Initiative with Coordinated “Power of 3” Events across the Globe

    The California Walnut Commission recently announced the second annual “Power of 3” global marketing campaign, which builds on the successful 2020 campaign. “Power of 3” will launch on March 3rd with a first-ever global event celebrated in the USA, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the Middle East to showcase how they like to get their daily handful of walnuts.

    The Power of 3:

    1. Launches March, the 3rd month of the year.
    2. Emphasizes the rich essential plant-based omega-3 ALA content of walnuts (2.5 grams/ounce).
    3. Encourages a handful a day (28-30 grams) as a simple way to improve overall nutrition.

    This campaign is a fun and engaging way to build on one of California walnuts’ core benefits as the only nut that is a rich source of plant-based omega-3 ALA (2.5 grams/ounce). ALA is an essential nutrient needed by the human body that can only be provided through the diet and has been associated with benefits for heart health, brain health and healthy aging. A one ounce serving of walnuts provides plant-based protein (4 grams), fiber (2 grams) and is good source of magnesium. Walnuts are also a good source of vitamin B6 (0.2mg/oz) and an excellent source of copper (0.45mg/oz) and manganese (0.1mg/oz) all of which contribute to the normal functioning of the immune system.

    “There was tremendous excitement around the globe for the Power of 3 campaign last year and we are thrilled to bring it back on an even bigger scale in 2021,” shares Pamela Graviet, Senior Marketing Director, International, for the California Walnut Commission. “This campaign makes it simple for consumers to remember just how easily they can improve their overall diet with a handful of walnuts.”

    The campaign will employ a variety of communications tools, including a video that is a core component of the campaign and will be used across all markets. Recipes, developed by influencers in each country, will be shared across the globe providing inspiration to consumers. Other elements will vary by market including digital and social media, blog posts, sweepstakes, influencer programs, recipe tips and tricks, easy recipes, instore promotions, advertisements and more to generate awareness that a handful of California walnuts is a powerful addition to the diet.

    The Science behind Plant-Based Omega-3 ALA

    All omega-3s provide health benefits, so it’s important to get these good fats from a variety of sources. As the only nut significantly high in omega-3 ALA (2.5g per one ounce/28g), one of the easiest ways to get more ALA into your diet is to start with walnuts.

    ALA and Heart Health

    A study from Advances in Nutrition found that ALA may help improve heart health just as we have seen in studies focused on EPA and DHA1. The literature review provided evidence showing the potentially beneficial role ALA may have in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack. According to a clinical trial published in The Journal of Nutrition, eating a diet rich in omega-3 ALA, from foods like walnuts, may help to lower the risk of heart disease through anti-inflammatory effects2. Given the current promising data, there is a need for well-controlled clinical trials to clarify the effects of ALA on risk for cardiovascular disease and to determine the recommended amount of ALA to consume for heart health benefits.

    ALA and Brain Health

    A review study from Progress in Lipid Research assessed the tissue levels of omega-3 DHA formed from ALA3. They reported several important findings. The first was that ALA leads to the synthesis of EPA in some cases, and in particular, may contribute to DHA levels in the brain. Evidence from a variety of studies suggests dietary ALA may be able to fulfill the human requirement for DHA in the body when higher levels of ALA (at least 1.2g) are consumed. Assessing the synthesis of EPA and DHA from ALA in humans is limited to blood level measurements. The takeaway from this study is that through its conversion process, ALA may play a role in maintaining DHA levels in important tissues such as the brain. More research is needed to fully understand the effect of this process in the body.

    ALA and Healthy Aging

    A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2020) looked at regular consumption of foods rich in marine or plant-based omega-3s and risk of death among individuals who have suffered a heart attack4. In addition, research from one of the largest clinical trials looking at the benefits of a Mediterranean diet suggested older Spanish individuals (ages 55-80) with a high cardiac risk who supplemented a high fish diet with dietary ALA saw a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Specifically, study participants who consumed at least 0.7% of their daily calorie intake from ALA had a 28% reduced risk of all-cause mortality.

  • CIDETRAK® NOW MESO™ – Add this TOOL to your BELT

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    “We are on year 2 with having CIDETRAK® NOW MESO™ in our orchard, and we are extremely pleased with the results. We’re treating 500 acres of Almonds and have seen a major reduction in NOW injury of up to 80%.

    What makes CIDETRAK unique for us is the application flexibility. We do not have flat square orchard blocks that other products can be used on. We have staggered rows and imperfect orchard shapes, and this is where we can use multiple MESO source points to cover

    Hanging the MESO’s was easy and even the local Trécé rep was willing to come out and show the team exactly how to apply the product.

    CIDETRAK’s non-mechanical, non-failure simplicity combined with “beyond the harvest, field life” are other important aspects that drive us to continue with MESO.

    CIDETRAK is a key tool in our toolbelt for controlling NOW. I recommend anyone thinking about their options for mating disruption products, to strongly consider CIDETRAK NOW.”

    About Kevin:

    Kevin grew up working in various aspects of Agriculture. At an early age he learned how to manage and operate a cattle ranch, as well as learned to manage large acreage of Almonds and Walnuts. After graduating from Chico State, he assumed the responsibility of managing Tehama Angus Ranch tree nut operations, and has been doing so ever since 2014. Kevin is the acting Orchard Manager for all of Tehama Angus Ranch tree nuts.

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  • Pacific Nut Producer March Issue

    Pacific Nut Producer March Issue

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    Contents of the March Issue:

    Bad Luck, Good Luck & a Whole Lotta Work
    Silva Family Legacy Continues Farming Walnuts
    Bumble Bees Under the Endangered Species Act
    CF&G Commission Decision on Appealing Decision
    Earl Bruck Gets Nut Grower of the Year Award
    Hazelnut Growers Gather Virtually for NGS Meeting
    March Orchard Tasks
    Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Walnuts

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  • USDA Announces Results of Walnut Marketing Order Referendum

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced amendments to the federal marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California. These amendments authorize the California Walnut Board to provide credit for market promotion expenses paid by handlers against their annual assessments due under the program.

    The amendments were approved in a referendum conducted Nov. 30 through Dec. 11, 2020. They were favored by 80.57% of the growers voting, representing 82.81% of the total volume of walnuts. To gain approval, the amendments needed support of at least two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum or at least two-thirds of the volume of walnuts grown by those voting in the referendum. A final rule amending the marketing order will be published in the Federal Register.

    USDA’s process for considering this change included an administrative hearing conducted April 20-21, 2020.

    The board locally administers the marketing order that maintains minimum grade and size regulations for walnuts grown in California. The marketing order also authorizes promotion, and research and development projects. More information about the marketing order is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 984 California Walnut webpage, the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage, or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.

    Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to 29 fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.