Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: The California Walnut Board

  • Growers Optimistic about Pre-Season 2023 California Walnut Outlook

    What a difference a year makes! The California walnut industry is gearing up for a stellar 2023 harvest and shipping season after several years of drought, record low grower returns, COVID disrupted markets with supply chain challenges and a devastating heat wave in September 2022 that negatively impacted the entire crop. Here’s why this season is lining up to be a different story.

    Quality is expected to be excellent due to favorable growing conditions.

    Last winter’s prolonged heavy rains in the California walnut growing regions helped restore deep soil moisture and provided for healthy root zones, enabling trees to better tolerate late season high temperatures. The state also benefitted from an extensive snowpack which has provided all growing regions with sufficient water to support the trees and the crops through this season.

    The much-needed chilling hours were at normal levels, placing the trees into a much-needed deep winter dormancy and a prolonged “rest and recuperation” period. Mild spring temperatures were ideal and produced full, vibrant, vigorous tree canopies which supported strong pollination, resulting in robust nut sets throughout the orchards.

    “This year, our trees are more capable of handling higher temperatures than the previous years when the trees were under stress due to long-term deficit irrigation,” commented fourth-generation grower and handler Bill Carriere of Glenn, California. “Long-time growers have commented that the trees have not looked this strong and healthy in at least six to seven years. The full leaf canopy provided excellent temperature control and sun protection during the spring and summer months, allowing the walnuts to grow evenly with minimal sunburn. I am very optimistic that this year will mark a return to the premium quality walnuts we are known for in California.”

    Acreage adjustments

    Record low prices, brought on by an oversupply of darker than normal walnut kernels and weak demand in international markets, have taken a toll on growers, some opting to remove orchards from production. “Our family decided to pull out a productive orchard planted by my father in the early 2000s, it was a difficult decision, but the numbers told the story,” said Don Barton, a fourth-generation family farmer in Escalon, California. “We pulled a few acres with legacy varieties that are no longer desired by the broader buying community. Further south, walnut growers had removed trees due to new water restrictions that resulted in a lack of long-term availability to groundwater. Overall, the last few years have been devastating for growers and we are making some difficult decisions.”

    The extent of the acreage shift became more evident in an acreage survey conducted by the California Walnut Board between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. For the first time ever, the acreage of California walnuts declined with 23,000 acres removed during the nine-month period. The industry will likely see additional reductions between July and December 2023, as more growers decide to shift to other crops and the needed tree removal equipment becomes available.

    Favorable New Crop Volumes and Inventory levels

    However, even with the removal of these orchards, the industry has a strong production base with approximately 380,000 producing acres and 37,000 younger non-bearing acres. USDA/National Agricultural Statistics Service Information (NASS) is currently conducting the annual walnut crop objective evaluation which counts and measures walnuts in a representative cross-industry sampling protocol. Incorporating the recently updated acreage report with the sampling results. USDA will release the official California walnut industry crop estimate on September 1, 2023.

    “This week, the California Walnut Board released the monthly and year-to-date shipment report which highlighted an additional reason why I am bullish about the upcoming season,” remarked Martin Mariani, a grower/processor from Winters, California, “The data shows that we have shipped the equivalent of 730,488 tons this season from an available inventory of 880,000 tons.” He went on to explain that when taking into consideration the high sales commitments going into the fall, “we are virtually sold out of available inventory, which bodes well for the industry. I can’t wait to bring the new crop to market.”

    Global and Domestic Market Outlook

    With a focus on inshell markets, Chile is anticipated to be sold out by the time the new California crop starts shipping this fall. With minimal inventories of export-quality walnuts on hand, coupled with the current limited supply of walnut halves in global markets, the fresh California crop of premium quality walnuts, inshell and kernels, will be in high demand.

    “Domestically, sales have increased 28% which helped our industry work through the high inventory numbers we saw at the start of the season” said Mike Poindexter of Poindexter Nut Company in Selma, California. “Major US retailers significantly increased their promotional efforts, which stimulated consumer sales.  This is continuing through the fall and will provide nice momentum going into the U.S. holiday season for new crop kernels and inshell sales.”

    Market Development and Sales Expansion

    Acknowledging the difficulty California walnut industry growers have faced in recent years, Robert Verloop, CEO and Executive Director for the California Walnut Commission (CWC) and Board, said the organization has taken several steps to aid growers.

    Robert Verloop, CEO and Executive Director, California Walnut Commission (CWC) and Board

    “There have been successful efforts during the season to respond to the heat wave impacted crop, yet with low prices and high input costs, the squeeze on family farms has been relentless. Through the Commission, we continue to work with our representatives in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento for emergency relief for growers,” he said.

    “Also, working with the CWC Board of Directors, industry handlers/processors, many volunteer leaders and elected officials and regulators, we have successfully secured a record USDA Section 32 purchase this season for up to $90 million; this funding is being used to help move the current crop out of our storage and into 1,400 food banks across the U.S., providing additional nutrition to thousands of families. In addition, the 20% reduction in tariffs recently announced by India will help us regain our footing in the Indian market.”

    About the California Walnut Board

    The California Walnut Board (CWB) was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. The CWB is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The CWB promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.

    About the California Walnut Commission 

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

  • Multiple Recent Studies Examine Walnuts & Heart Health

    New findings from three publications supported by the California Walnut Commission, demonstrate the impact of walnuts on various aspects of heart health. The findings were so compelling that the papers were supported by the journals with a press release and/or editorial coverage, stimulating broad media coverage. The California Walnut Board (CWB)/California Walnut Commission’s (CWC) mission is to work collectively 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.

    Here are the highlights:

    • A study published in the online journal Heart analyzed the impact of a traditional Mediterranean diet, green Mediterranean diet, and healthy US diet on LDL cholesterol, weight and insulin resistance. Both Mediterranean diets included a daily serving of walnuts.
    • Research shared in the Journal of the American College of Cardiologylooked at regular consumption of foods rich in marine or plant-based omega-3s and risk of death among individuals who have suffered a heart attack. Walnuts are the only nut with an excellent source of plant-based omega-3 ALA (2.5 grams/ounce).
    • Another publication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiologyexplored regular consumption of walnuts and anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation, caused by factors such as poor diet, obesity, stress and high blood pressure, is damaging and a factor associated with heart disease risk.

    These publications and subsequent editorials and press releases have been seen over 400 million times by U.S. consumers to-date, in popular media outlets such as TODAY, Health Digest, Yahoo!, Consumer Reports, and Eat This, Not That! The California Walnut Commission (CWC) continues to fund health research to address important scientific questions, ultimately sharing findings that educate consumers about the health benefits of walnuts, helping to build market demand within the industry.

    In this case, consumers can see how including walnuts in their diet can have a beneficial impact on heart health and this easily translates to keeping walnuts top-of-mind when grocery shopping. This news also keeps walnuts in front of health professionals, who can then recommend walnuts to their patients based on new evidence-based research.

    Carol Sloan RDN, FAND, Health Research Director for California Walnuts shares, “Our industry health research program is dedicated to funding research in a credible and transparent manner that will improve understanding and expand knowledge about the effects of walnut consumption on public health outcomes.”

    Carol Sloan

    “The program began with study findings showing the positive benefits of consuming walnuts as part of a healthy diet on decreasing risk of heart disease,” Sloan continued.  “Although it is now well established that walnuts are a heart-healthy food, California Walnuts continues to support research in this area to build upon previous scientific findings, and also to keep pace with new biomarkers and outcomes related to heart disease, the #1 cause of death in the US.”

    “As a registered dietitian, I appreciate the fact that I can share scientific findings with my colleagues that assist consumers with having healthier lives with the simple addition of heart healthy foods like walnuts. Enjoying a handful of walnuts a day is an easy way to decrease risk of chronic illness such as heart disease. For example, preparing walnut “meat” tacos for dinner, or putting walnut butter on toast for breakfast or in a smoothie with fruits and walnut milk for lunch are easy, delicious and fun ways to eat more plants, including walnuts without sacrificing taste or nutrition,” Sloan concluded.

  • CA Nut Industry Funds Four New UC Cooperative Extension Research Positions

    Four staff research associates will join the ranks of UC Cooperative Extension scientists in the coming months to support nut crop advisors conducting critical research in walnut, almond and pistachio production.

    The California Walnut Board, the Almond Board of California and the California Pistachio Research Board together have provided about $425,000 to cover annual salaries, benefits, travel and equipment for the new UC Cooperative Extension staff. Under the terms of the agreement, the new positions will be funded annually for up to three years, pending available funds and success of the program.

    “By supporting these new positions in UC Cooperative Extension, the California Walnut Board, the Almond Board of California and the California Pistachio Research Board show their recognition for the value of applied research conducted by our nut crop advisors,” said UC Agriculture and Natural Resources vice president Glenda Humiston. “We are grateful to these industry organizations for this vote of confidence and the generous funding to generate science-based knowledge to apply on California farms.”

    The new research associates will each devote time supporting two advisors with tree nut assignments:

    • Allan Fulton and Luke Milliron, serving Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties
    • Katherine Jarvis-Shean and Franz Niederholzer, serving Colusa, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo counties
    • Mae Culumber and Phoebe Gordon, serving Fresno, Madera and Merced counties
    • Elizabeth Fichtner and an advisor under recruitment, serving Tulare and Kings counties

    The arrangement reflects a change in how UC Cooperative Extension supports the agriculture industries in California with applied research. With less funding from its traditional revenue sources – USDA, the state government and counties – advisors cover more territory than in the past. Over the years, they have also taken on an increasing share of UC’s applied research mission serving the state’s specialty crops industries.

    The new staff research associate positions were crafted to attract highly qualified candidates who will support advisors’ applied research efforts. Their primary focus will be on assisting advisors with planning, execution and gathering data on experimental and demonstration field trials.

    UCCE advisor emeritus Joe Grant, who now serves as production research director of the California Walnut Board, chaired an industry working group that drafted the plan based on advisors’ input about their needs.

    “Advisors are competent and creative people with the skills and knowledge to do research. They need the same support that researchers on campus have,” Grant said.

    The California Pistachio Research Board previously provided funding for a plant pathology researcher and an integrated pest management advisor at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. In addition, the board supported creation of $1 million endowments for a nut genetics researcher and a tree nut soil science and plant-water relations researcher as part of an initiative co-funded by UC President Janet Napolitano.

    “We’ve been concerned for a long time about UC Cooperative Extension’s research capacity and infrastructure issues,” said Bob Klein, manager of the California Pistachio Research Board. “This new initiative will increase efficiency and productivity for farm advisors and also reduce their stress from being overcommitted.”

    Josette Lewis, the Almond Board chief scientific officer, said the organization depends on UCCE farm advisors for unbiased, quality information about almond production.

    “Advisors are a valuable link between UC campuses and growers, not only in doing applied research that helps growers thrive, but in meeting California’s goals of environmental and social sustainability,” Lewis said. “The information they generate is shared with a host of ag industry professionals – pest control advisers, crop consultants and people in the private sector who provide services to growers.”

    Commodity industry funding for UC Cooperative Extension reflects the value the nut crop industries leverage from one of the strongest agricultural research and extension systems in the world, Lewis said.

    The new program is modeled after a pilot project in Colusa County in which the Almond Board provided funding for Niederholzer to hire an intern to support almond research. A young scientist who held the post from 2015-16 was Milliron. In 2017, UC Cooperative Extension named Milliron a sustainable orchard systems advisor for Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties and he will now supervise one of the new staff research associates.

    “We had a chance to keep him in the system and capitalize on what he learned during his internship,” Lewis said.

    There are other tree nut and fruit advisors in need of research help, Grant said. For example, there are concentrations of tree fruit and nut acreage and growers in Kern, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

    “We positioned these four research associates where we heard the need for help was most critical. We can see adding another position or two in the future if funds are available,” Grant said. — By Jeannette E. Warnert, UC Cooperative Extension

    Pistachios growing at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

  • New California Walnuts Advertising Campaign Offers Solutions When “Life Isn’t Always Simple”

    The California Walnut Board announced today the launch of the “Life Isn’t Always Simple” The California Walnut Board advertising campaign, created to show consumers how walnuts can be an easy way to add nutrition, crunch and variety to any meal and snack. The new campaign, which focuses on the importance of small daily “wins,” like getting an easy and delicious meal on the table, marks a conscious shift to a more lifestyle-focused creative strategy than in years past. In developing the creative, the Board leaned into the emotional connection and role walnuts can play in people’s everyday lives.

    Segmentation research and a series of focus groups uncovered that women aged 25-54, primarily Millennials and Gen Xers, are optimistically embracing the challenges that accompany their full, active and busy lifestyles. Despite describing their days as ‘controlled chaos’, they are enthusiastic about life, laugh off small setbacks, and enjoy small daily victories. Lack of time is their greatest challenge and many are looking for simple solutions to make their days more manageable.

    The integrated campaign will reach 97% of adults over 18 an average of 32 times, garnering 3.7 million impressions across the U.S. The year-long campaign kicks off with national print ads, six TV spots as well as digital ads. The TV spots feature relatable examples of how modern life can often be filled with chaotic moments (ever mistake school picture day for pajama day?) then reminds viewers that California walnuts are an easy solution for incorporating nutritious and delicious recipes into everyday routines.

    “In recent years, the California Walnut Board’s advertising was focused on promoting the functionality of walnuts, their versatility and added health benefits as an ingredient,” said Jennifer Williams, Marketing Director, Domestic Advertising at California Walnut Board. “California walnuts are not just in the business of food, but in making an emotional connection with our audiences through cooking, eating, and enjoying. This new campaign is a shift towards appealing to consumers on a more emotional level – portraying walnuts in a relatable way.”

    The media plan to support this new campaign leverages various platforms including print magazines, national TV, editorial integrations, digital and social activations, blog posts, and influencer programs. The entire plan is designed to encourage walnut consumption beyond the traditional holiday season.  This effort will be supported by an unprecedented investment at retail, to remind consumers to add California walnuts to their shopping cart.

    California Walnut Board

    The California Walnut Board was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California.  The CWB is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The CWB promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.