Calif. almond crop projected for major growth in 2024

California’s almond crop this year is expected to increase by 21 percent compared to 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The USDA expects the almond crop to total around three billion pounds, a significant boost from the 2.47 billion pounds produced last year. 

Driving the news: California’s lofty almond production projections are driven by favorable weather for the first half of the growing season, according to an analysis from the USDA. 

• The almond bloom began in the second week of February for the early varieties, and while there were some storms that brought rain, wind and hail, overall mild temperatures and excellent weather from the end of February into March helped boost pollination. 
• Bee hours were significantly higher than 2023, the USDA said, and the bloom finished by the middle of March. 
• “Wet weather and warmer temperatures in April increased pest and disease pressures,” the analysis reads. “There was minimal to no threat of frost damage and water allocation is not an issue for the second year in a row.” 

By the numbers: If California’s almond crop projections are accurate, 2024 would be the second-best year on record in the last decade. 

• Only 2020, which saw around 3.1 billion pounds of almonds produced, came in higher than 2024, and 2021 was the only other year to top 2.6 billion pounds as it neared three billion pounds. 
• The worst year in the last decade was 2015 with around 1.9 billion pounds produced. 
• California has had at least 2.2 billion pounds every year since 2017. 
• The yield per acre increase is up 380 pounds from 2023, rising from 1,790 pounds per acre to 2,170 pounds per acre. 

What they’re saying: “This larger crop estimate is what the industry expected after a productive bloom this spring, but it is also a testament to the hard work done by almond farmers throughout California during difficult times,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “Demand for California almonds around the globe continues to grow and our almond farmers constantly deliver on producing high quality California almonds to meet that demand.”