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.