Almonds
Actual Loss & Exempt percentages for the 2019 / 2020 Marketing Year were 1.8%, which resulted in a positive adjustment of +4,024,490 pounds from the 2.0% forecasted. This year over year decrease in Loss & Exempt percentages likely means that processing by California almond packing plants is improving and/or the yield per tree may also be improving. Although, it is most likely that these gains are from mechanical process improvements by processors in California. This steadily improving Loss & Exempt percentage is a testament to the top quality of California’s processing methods, people, and equipment.
Crop size alone is not the full story. Improvements in Loss & Exempt mean more almonds are “saved” each year in ADDITION to the annual increase in crop size generally from net new plantings over time. Therefore, each year, California packers are generating an additional output that was untapped in the previous year.
Put simply, California is actually producing even more almonds than we forecasted.
While California is producing more almonds than it ever has, global demand continues to grow - showing there is yet no ceiling on market capacity for California’s most popular tree nut. In fact, shipments in August of 2020 reached an astonishing 127.12 million lb, a nearly 50% increase from August 2019 and a record for any August.
Our most popular almond varieties are Nonpareil, Independence, Butte/Padre, and Carmel types with the most popular grades of Supreme, Extra, Standard 5%, and more.
Walnuts
California Walnuts are entering their harvest season with the marketing year just getting started. Many sellers have been hesitant to enter the market with the larger Chandler Jumbo size in-shell walnuts due to the average nut size being down slightly this year and the risk of overbooking large sizes before the bulk of the harvest has come in.
Year-to-date shipments of California walnuts improved slightly in August, although the 2019/2020 marketing year still lags significantly behind the record breaking 2018/2019 marketing year. Export shelled shipments and Domestic shelled shipments were nearly on par with the previous year, while in-shell shipments remained significantly down.
Given that California is expecting to see a record breaking harvest for walnuts this year and should COVID-19 related slowdowns improve, it could be argued that we will see export shipments of in-shell walnuts not only recover, but also set new records in the 2020 / 2021 marketing year.
We work with the best California walnut packers to supply our customers with Jumbo and Jumbo / Large (J/L) in-shell Chandler, Howard, Hartley, Vina, Tulare, Serr and other varieties. We also provide bleached in-shell walnuts in addition to California shelled product including Chandler and non-Chandler Light Halves & Pieces (LHP) 20%, 40%, 80% and higher based on customer requirements. We also supply Combo Halves and Pieces (CHP) and Light Sorted Pieces (LSP).
Raisins
California’s raisin crop is progressing well with good weather in the last few weeks. The August 2020 Raisin Shipment Report was released recently, showing steadily increasing shipments for California raisins.
Of note is the large US Government purchase of California raisins in August of some 2,368 Packed Tons, which would have made the US government the single largest trading partner against all export destinations. This government buy is good news for the raisin industry as it takes pressure off of carry-in inventories and helps to bolster the price of US raisins as California’s quality and processing continues to be the global standard for both Thompson Seedless and DOV raisins.
We supply all major bulk California raisins including dried-on-the-vine (DOV) and tray-dried Natural Thompson Seedless Selects, Selma Petes, Flames, Goldens, and other varieties in Jumbo, Select, and Midget sizes and welcome your inquiries. We also supply Selma Pete DOV Double-Run Supreme raisins to Japan and elsewhere which are processed twice to achieve exceptionally low stem and capstem counts. We offer multiple packaging options including custom boxes with client branding, supplier branded boxes, and blank unbranded boxes.