2012 Almond Crop Harvest Set To Begin
Throughout the California Central Valley, almond growers spent much of July in preparation for the upcoming harvest. Weed control, irrigation and insect management activities dominated growers’ attention during the period as they worked to support the maturing crop and prepare the orchards for an efficient harvest.
The 2012 crop is well on its way toward more normal harvest timing than has been experienced in the past two years. In fact, some growers in the southern region are already shaking their Nonpareil crop and observers are reporting that thus far, the crop is coming off easily and the trees are shaking cleanly. In the northern and central regions, observers are reporting that the hulls of the Nonpareil are splitting well and that the orchards are in generally good condition. Observers are also reporting hull split in the pollinizer varieties, which by all appearances may be ready to shake shortly after the Nonpareil harvest is completed.
At this time, growers are making the final irrigation to many Nonpareil plantings and if they haven’t done so already, will begin the harvest as soon as the trees have dried enough to eliminate the possibility of damage during shaking. All the while, huller/sheller operators are putting the finishing touches on their facilities and stand ready to begin their season as soon as product arrives from the orchards.