SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (RFD News) — Two different trends are shaping California’s tree nut industry. Almond acreage is tightening after several years of pressure, while pistachios are moving from a strong production year into a lighter crop cycle.
Producer William Bourdeau says those shifts could begin to show up in the marketplace, explaining that tightening supply could help bring almond prices closer to balance as demand strengthens.
“You know, I’m optimistic that almond prices will improve, and there’s a lot of acres that came out of production. There are a lot of acres that were deficit-irrigated. They’re a sensitive crop, and so I do think supply and demand equilibrium will start sorting itself out. And as demand increases and supply goes down, the price should improve. And so I’m optimistic.”
On the other hand, pistachio prices are holding steady, despite a shifting outlook for the upcoming harvest.
“Pistachios, we still have a decent price,” Bourdeau said. “I think this is an off year. So we had a really big crop last year. It’s going to be a more modest crop this year. So I think prices will remain close to the same as last year. And so I’m very optimistic that pistachios, if we don’t have some strange weather events or something that adversely impacts the yield, I feel really good about pistachios in the near term.”
He adds that, barring weather disruptions, pistachios are expected to remain steady in the months ahead.
