AS the article points out the majority of farmers are still using spray irrigation rather than much more efficient drip irrigation. There probably should be financial assistance to help farmers shift into the more efficient method. I love almonds, and the quote below I find very disappointing. Also why 70% of the almonds shipped out of country, when the area is so needful of water?
“During the last drought, from 2012 to 2016, Central Valley farmers doubled their plantings in water-intensive almond orchards to 800,000 acres. Ten percent of the state’s available water supply goes to those almond orchards, or roughly half the water consumed by California’s urban users. Every almond harvested in the Central Valley takes a gallon of water to produce, and 70 percent of the crop is exported, primarily to India and China.
I didn't know each and every almond takes a gallon of water. I'll never look at an almond again. (actually, can that be true? An almond tree has thousands of almonds. Does it take thousands of gallons to irrigate one tree during the annual cycle? Seems like way too much water.)
Almonds are one of those supposed "superfoods." I love them, too. Interesting nutrition facts from 9 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Almonds.
Almonds boast an incredibly impressive nutrient profile.
A 1 ounce (28 grams, or small handful) serving of almonds contains:
- Fiber: 3.5 grams.
- Protein: 6 grams.
- Fat: 14 grams (9 of which are monounsaturated).
- Vitamin E: 37% of the RDA.
- Manganese: 32% of the RDA.
- Magnesium: 20% of the RDA.
- They also contain a decent amount of copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and phosphorus.
This is all from a small handful, which supplies only 161 calories and 2.5 grams of digestible carbohydrates.
It is also important to note that 10-15% of an almond's calories are not absorbed by the body, because the fat is too difficult to access and break down.
Almonds are also high in phytic acid, a substance that binds certain minerals and prevents them from being absorbed. This means that the amount of iron, zinc and calcium you get from the almonds will be reduced somewhat.
Almonds are a fantastic source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to protect against oxidative stress, which can damage molecules in cells and contribute to aging and diseases like cancer. The powerful antioxidants in almonds are largely concentrated in the brown layer of the skin.
All orchards use FLOOD irrigation.
They literally flood it to 6-12 inches deep of water from the irrigation canals, and do so about twice per month.
Some have shifted to drip irrigation but their yields are 1/2 of what they used to be as the roots cannot spread as they used to.
The reason 70% of the almond crop is shipped out is because there are willing buyers all over the world, and few regions that can actually grow them.
That said I believe olives will eventually supplant many of the fruit/nut orchards of the Big Valley. They require 1/10th as much water and produce a PREMIUM oil.