Almond cultivation in California

[1] Although almonds are not native to California, a hot, dry Mediterranean climate and developed water infrastructure create favorable conditions for commercial cultivation of the crop.

As of 2021, due to a historic long-term drought in California, production was forecast to decline, and many almond orchards were being abandoned.

[4] Shipping disruptions, reductions in consumer spending, and trade disputes during 2020-21 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected logistics and pricing of almonds.

Many of containers were going back empty due to the rush by shippers to bring in imports of back-to-school supplies and fall fashions from Asia.

Commercial almond growers may rent hives during the blooming season to ensure pollination success.

[11] Starting in 2006, California almond growers began to suffer losses due to colony collapse disorder, a poorly understood phenomenon resulting in the decline of bee populations.

[2] While this increased pollination expenses for many growers, high demand for almonds created an incentive to transport bees from across the United States to California.

[13] Critics have pointed out that the state's 6,000 almond farmers use roughly 35 times the amount of water as the 466,000 residents of Sacramento.

[14] To supplement reduced deliveries from the state's water system, many almond farmers increased groundwater pumping, which can unsustainably deplete aquifers and cause land subsidence.

[14] Almond production fell somewhat as a result of the drought, contributing to higher prices and dampening consumer demand.

[2] To compensate, many farmers removed older, less-productive almond trees and replaced them with newer plantings that use less water.

For example, biochar made from almond shells can be integrated into automobile and plane tires, allowing them to better resist changing temperatures.