Record almond crop predicted as harvest kicks off
Almond growers will take to the orchards this week to begin harvesting a record crop.
AUSTRALIA’S almond harvest kicks off this week amid predictions of a record crop of 123,000 tonnes.
Almond Board of Australia chief executive Ross Skinner said a survey of the largest almond marketers – including Olam, Almondco and Nut Producers Australia – revealed the 2021 almond crop would likely exceed early predictions of about 120,000 tonnes, and would be well ahead of last year’s crop of 106,000 tonnes.
The bumper harvest follows “very good” growing conditions and aligned with a boom in almond plantings that took off in 2016.
“We’ve had very good growing conditions from both a yield and a quality point of view, but the record tonnage is mainly due to new plantings maturing or coming into bearing fruit,” Mr Skinner said.
Annual almond plantings jumped from 730ha in 2014 to almost 2100ha in 2015 and 6540ha in 2016 and remained between 4000ha and 6600ha thereafter until last year, when they dipped.
In line with predictions, the nation’s almond industry witnessed a go-slow in tree plantings last year despite soaring global demand due to prolonged drought conditions and while state governments resolved water security for irrigators.
A survey conducted mid-last year to put a figure on the number of new trees planted in 2020 at about 2000ha. Between 2016 and 2019 (the most recent year with a definitive figure), the total area planted to almonds jumped from 37,900ha to 53,000ha.
Most almond growers will tentatively begin harvest this week, with momentum building over coming weeks and finishing by the end of April.
Nut quality was also predicted to be high. Mr Skinner said indications were of a good kernel size.
Meanwhile monthly exports of Australian almonds have broken records each between September and November last year. Mr Skinner said the record shipments were in line with strong demand for the Australian nut from China, India, Europe and the Middle East and follow an easing on the water after months of constrained shipments due to COVID-19.
MORE
PLANTING GO-SLOW PREDICTED FOR AUSTRALIAN ALMONDS
Macquarie sweetens offer for Vitalharvest
Macquarie’s agriculture fund has improved its offer for the Vitalharvest Freehold Trust. Here are the details.
Would you buy ‘organic in-conversion’ blueberries?
Berry marketing giant Driscoll’s has launched a line of blueberries grown by farmers awaiting their organic certification. Do you agree with the new “organic in-conversion” labelling?