As much as 50% of almond trees in some orchards were destroyed in the storm in northern california last week. Be prepared for increased almond prices next year. I think something like 80% of almonds are grown in California.
Darn. My brother lives in "ammond" country (as they say the word up there) and his old house bordered a huge grove which was sadly being replaced by tract houses.
Dang! WD I feel their pain <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I lost half the apple and peach crop due to wind storm damage 2 years ago and never recovered financially. Had to give up the leases <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'd be interested in some of that wood for craft projects. Hope they don't truck the wood to a landfill or burn it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
I eat mostly Spanish Marcona almonds so the price is always high....$9+ a pound <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> But they taste light years sweeter than California almonds to me. i could pick'em outta' any blind taste test..try it yourself.
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
Almonds here are $4 a pound. $9/pound is a bit too rich for me but I bet they are good! They are talking of selling the trees for firewood. Actually the orchards sell wood to Yosemite NP - and tourists buy it for $7 a small bundle! I also see it in the stores here for $5-6 a small bundle. I have a friend who has an orchard (and a day job as a lawyer) who builds huge fences with his branch trimmings.
Almonds are a staple of my backpacking diet. I may have to substiute walnuts.
Another reason I like almonds is that it is really pretty around here when the trees bloom beautiful white flowers in Feburary. It marks the start of spring.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
When I was a youngin we lived out in the country in Modesto. My grandparents lived across the street from us and had numerous fruit and nut trees. Always it seemed something was ripe there. In our orchards we had about three kinds of peaches, 99% Elberta cling peaches, some english walnut trees, couple varieties of almonds and a couple short rows of boysenberries. Before we moved to Nevada, we either owned or leased about half of one side of the street we lived on, where we tended the peach orchards. Come irrigation day, took all day and part of the night to water all of it. Luckily, us kids were too young, so we got to sleep at night. I miss the fresh fruit, store stuff doesn't cut it. Then when the peaches were finished, right after Labor Day, my dad contracted cutting grapes, with a crew of hard working Mexicans. They went from picking our peaches to cutting grapes. I got to work with them when they picked peaches, I did the grading. Another thing, nothing like a fresh bunch of Thompson seedless grapes snuck out of the gondola or truck, as our dad made us stay in the pickup after school. Behind our house, my dad and grandad raised some Moon and Stars watermelon for a little side money, about half an acre of them. Watermelon, a kids dream come true, right in the back yard. Yum.
At the health food coop here, almonds are now $9.00 to get safe, salmanella? free ones and Safeway has them for $6.99 I think.
Some trees in some orchards in some areas of the state were damaged. Some ( <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) quite heavily. But I haven't seen any news (yet to come?) that indicates the damage to the industry is sufficient to raise prices significantly.
Stay tuned...Almond Day will be celebrated in the San Joaquin Valley in a couple weeks...maybe there will be some news then. Blooms show up next month, I think, with the harvest starting up at the end of summer.
FB
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"...inalienable rights...include the right to a clean and healthful environment..." Montana Constitution
Yup! Bees are havin' a problem nation wide and there was a shortage for the almond orchards last year. None the less, the almond crop came in at just below record levels...
FB
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"...inalienable rights...include the right to a clean and healthful environment..." Montana Constitution
I eat mostly Spanish Marcona almonds so the price is always high....$9+ a pound <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> But they taste light years sweeter than California almonds to me. i could pick'em outta' any blind taste test..try it yourself.
Where do you get them for $9 a pound, or even $10? I've found them for $15 + shipping = $21/lb. Thanks
Boink! Costco has cans of them sometimes on sale for $6.99 ' kirkland brand Marcona Almonds roasted & seasoned w/sea salt' 16oz can in the candy aisle <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> They're worth $10 a lb to me packing!
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
Isn't there also a problem with bees dying, so that the CA crops may be reduced due to decreased polination?
One problem after another!
CamperMom
Having kept bees I can tell you the 'bees dying off issue' isn't as bad a problem now that it was diagnosed as CCS. The hives are slowly coming back and there should'nt be any problems other than higher pollination fees......which, is why if you're a farmer you keep your own <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Oh WD they're too rich for my blood too, but then again I forgo other luxuries like ice cream, sweets, junk foods in order to choose them. I eat them sparingly, as only one or two get my appettite satiated <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
Whyyyyyyyyyy it's Colony Collapse Syndrome......same thing that happens to my hives every time you go whizzin' by on that train to NYC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Actually it's getting under control now, and in a few short years it should be back to normal. I don't want to slight anyone but that large country that begins with a 'C' started the problem, spread it to Australia, who then spread it to the USA & Eurtope by exportation of bees <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
I love keeping bees, one of the joys of life.....and to think when I was into my late teens I was terrified of them <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Now wasps, hornets, yellow jackets they scare the HE !! outta me still <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
When I kept bees in San Antonio it was one of the most peaceful and relaxed feeleings I had experienced...laying on a recliner in the middle of the apiary....watching them come and go and listening to the hum. Now I've got to learn how to do it again...keeping hives in western Montana is a bit different than south Texas. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
A couple years ago I talked to a driver of a flatbed which had about 30 hives on it. He had picked them up here in the local area and was taking them to...you guessed it...almond groves in California. I see that truck and the load of hives almost every Fall.
FB
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"...inalienable rights...include the right to a clean and healthful environment..." Montana Constitution
Fiddleback, That's a pollination semi, and the owner of the bees does the same farms every year at the same times. They do apples in WA, almonds in Cali, Cherries in MI, blueberries in Maine..all the same hives! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
I bet it's different keeping bees with bears <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Donna, CCS is caused by pesticide laden Royal Jelly that is/was fed to bees and caused them to get similiar symptoms that a human would get...essentially bee altzihemiers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> The bees leave the hive and can't find their way back and die in the wilds <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> The hive gets down to such a minimal amount of bees that the queen can't stay cool or warm, depending upon time of year; and the hive 'collapses' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
I suppose it's no surprise but most of our honey comes from China. And although I haven't looked at the figures or otherwise kept up with current conditions, huge honey surpluses have been around for a long time.
FB
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"...inalienable rights...include the right to a clean and healthful environment..." Montana Constitution
Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets shouldn't get the best of you. Just swat em like a fly. I'm not advocating the taking of life but, they can't sting you if you get them first. The worst bees I've ever come into contact with were ground dwelling bees that looked like black and yellow bumble bees. I was cutting the lawn and ran the mower over a nest without knowing. They swarmed out of the hole and came after me. I ran like !&$% around the house and was able to get in behind a screen door before they could get me. Musta been 15 of em. They were pissed and were hitting the screen door. Sounded like automatic weapon fire. The wasps are more docile it seems in arkansas. More like slow flies. So I kill em. I wait till a bee lands like say a brick wall, then I just swat with my hand. I don't give em time to sting me. Unless I miss... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Registered: 01/14/08
Posts: 45
Loc: On top of the North Downs, UK
Here's hoping the almond trees live on. I use the little devils by the pound in everything from my spiced nut mix to Blamanger of Chicken - my medieval dinner! Whole, flaked, ground...Yummy things!
I suppose it's no surprise but most of our honey comes from China. And although I haven't looked at the figures or otherwise kept up with current conditions, huge honey surpluses have been around for a long time.
FB
That could explain the price, but all my honey comes from New Brunswick or Prince Edwards Island. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
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