The value of the California almond market hit $4.8 billion in 2012—thats triple the level of a decade earlier. Only dairy is worth more to the state than almonds and grapes. In fact, almonds, along with California-grown pistachios and walnuts, are becoming so lucrative that big investment funds, eager to get in on the boom, are snapping up land and dropping in trees. Theres just one problem: Almond orchards require about a third more water per acre than grape vineyards. In fact, theyre one of Californias thirstiest crops. It takes a gallon of water to produce a single almond—more than three times the amount required for a grape and two and a half times as much for a strawberry. Theres more water embedded in just four almonds than there is in a full head of lettuce. But unlike row crops, which farmers can choose not to plant during dry spells, almond trees must be watered no matter what.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:03:00 +0000
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