Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this year’s California walnut production can be taken in different ways — like a disappointing decrease from last year’s production, or the more optimistic “we’ll do better than we thought.”

The latter is the feeling of Joshua Rahm, Technology and Regulatory Director for the California Walnut Board/Walnut Commission. “Early crop reduction estimates of about 670,000 tons may prove inaccurate as shipping data indicates we’re going to exceed that number by a fair amount,” Rahm said. “By the time it’s all said and done, we have a pretty good indication that final numbers will be below our record harvest, but higher than earlier projections.  Based on shipment reports and receipts at harvest, there’s going to be a clear exceedance of the early season pessimism.”

“We anticipated a re-balancing from last year’s record crop (785,000 tons), so there’s no reason to use the word ‘disappointed’,” added the groups’ marketing director, Jennifer Williams.  “When your yield can be impacted by frost conditions, you become aware that Mother Nature can be temperamental at times.”

Changes in the technology involved in the industry should prove beneficial in the goal of increasing production.  “Each new year always brings new hope and new opportunities,” Rahm says.  “I can say with confidence that there’s brightness, opportunity, and optimism around increasing walnut quality using new technologies and tools to identify post-harvest challenges.  Automation will continue to gain traction via new software systems and algorithms that will help growers enhance and improve their operations.

‘A lot of excitement’

“Then there’s the sustainability piece.  With the previous record crop comes a record amount of hulls and shells and a growing list of possible byproducts.  There’s a lot of excitement about downstream opportunities that will add value to our growers and handlers, whether it’s looking at hulls as an alternative feed or using shells as an internal curing agent in concrete.

“Sustainable ingredients have an impact on not just the nut producers, but other stakeholders throughout the agricultural industry, like a possible growth media for the hydroponic plant producers.  We need to keep things sourced sustainable and locally in California where 99% of English walnuts are produced.”

Also under consideration is a walnut origins database to protect against potential adulteration or fraud from other countries.  Such a base would differentiate the premium products in the marketplace.  “Having that database there for growers and handlers with spot checks to protect industry integrity is one of the exciting developments underway.”

One of the industry’s well-respected data-based voices is that of Rabobank and their Five-Year Walnut Market Outlook (2021-2026) that noted, “Research, innovation, and marketing are needed to maintain a high-quality product enabling the U.S. walnut industry to continue surmounting international competition — with production out of the U.S. and Chile expected to grow about 20% year-to-year.”

All well and good, but if the product can’t get exported, the problems are compounded.  “Shipping is definitely a big challenge for the ag industry as a whole and the California Walnut Commission is working with the Ag Transport Coalition to ensure improvements and enhancements are forthcoming whether its container availability, rule bookings, outright cancellations, or shortages on the driver’s side of it.  The industry is continuing to engage in ways to get our product in the hands of customers across the globe.”