Despite a steady acreage decline, new pests and diseases, water shortages and a growing worldwide impatience with the use of agricultural chemicals, Clarice Turner believes almond producers have the world just where they want it.

“I truly believe we have the right product in the right place at the right time,” said Turner, chief executive officer of the Almond Board of California. “Throughout this industry’s 170 years, there has been one constant – change. Our ability to respond … has been vital to our very survival.”

Through the years, the industry has weathered storms while continuing to grow and evolve, Turner told an audience at the 52^nd annual Almond Conference in Sacramento. The conference began Tuesday, Dec. 10, and concludes today, Dec.12.

“That ability to evolve is the reason we’re all here,” she said.

Turner delivered her veritable pep talk during a State of the Industry presentation on the conference’s first day at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, at which she and other Almond Board leaders gave an update of the commodity group’s promotional activities and other initiatives.

The industry is leaner and cleaner than it was at its peak in the 2010s. Lower almond returns over the past several years have erased profit margins, prompting some growers to give up on the crop.

Related:Growers begin vote on Almond Board's future

In addition, growers are facing new disease pressures, Symptoms of red leaf blotch, a plant disease, were observed in California almonds for the first time last summer, prompting the University of California to urge farms to plan fungicide applications for early next spring.

Meanwhile, the carpophilus beetle – historically a major threat to almonds in Australlia – was first reported in the San Joaquin Valley last year and has caused some California growers to lose 10% to 15% of their yield, according to UC Integrated Pest Management.

Still optimistic

But Turner said industry leaders are optimistic about what looks to be a healthy rise in demand, evidenced by a carryout that fell below 500 million pounds for the first time since 2019.

The board has been looking to boost demand by “doubling down” on its core markets – the U.S., Western Europe and particularly India, where shipments grew by 21% last year, Turner said.

The industry is well on its way to meeting environmental goals it set for itself by next year, touting reductions in water use and crop waste while noting that almond trees store some of the highest amounts of carbon per acre at 18 metric tons annually.

Lately, Almond Board research and promotion has placed a large emphasis on nutrition. One study published earlier this year found that almond consumption improved muscle recovery after exercise, while others have shown the nut’s benefits for heart health, weight management, blood sugar levels and skin health.

Related:Calif. almond acreage continues to decline

“We are on a mission to make sure the world knows how nutritionally dense our little kernels are,” Turner said. “We have momentum in demand in our most mature and our developing markets. It’s time to seize the opportunities in front of us.”