may-jun-2020

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL Stepping Up to Help Communities During COVID-19 As part of our ongoing commitment to our community, Blue Diamond donated cases of our almond products to help families impacted by the COVID-19 situation. The co-op is grateful to local organizations Volunteers of America Northern California and Northern Nevada, Downtown Streets Team, and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services for their partnership in helping deliver a source of hope during this uncertain time. Blue Diamond also led a donation drive with supporting partners Union Pacific Railroad and Sun-Maid Growers of California to mobilize a match donation drive for local food banks. On May 5 — a global day of giving and unity for COVID-19 — the companies pledged a collective match of up to $50,000 in total to be split amongst three California food banks — Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, Second Harvest Food Bank and Central California Food Bank. The demand for food for those in need has more than doubled since the COVID-19 health crises began, causing many families to seek food bank support for the first time. As a result, food banks are at risk to fulfill the needs of those in their communities. More than ever, food banks need financial donations to make consistent purchases of food using their deep discount rates. Every $1 donated can provide up to seven meals to a family struggling to put food on their table. The successful drive raised more than $65,000 in donations to help feed families in need. USDA-NASS Predicts Third Straight Record-Breaking Almond Crop Information provided by The Almond Board of California The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is predicting a record California almond crop for the third straight year. The USDA-NASS 2020 California Almond Subjective Forecast estimates California almond orchards will produce 3.0 billion pounds of nuts this year, up 17.6 percent from last year’s 2.55 billion-pound crop. Forecasted yield is expected to reach 2,380 pounds per acre, 10.2 percent greater than the 2019 yield of 2,160 per acre. This forecast comes about three weeks after USDA-NASS released the 2019 California Almond Acreage Report, which estimated total almond acreage for 2019 up 10 percent from 2018 at 1.53 million acres. Bearing acres — orchards mature enough to produce a crop - were reported at 1.18 million acres, up eight percent from the previous year. USDA-NASS also estimated preliminary bearing acreage for 2020 at 1.26 million acres. This July, USDA-NASS will release its second production estimate, the 2020 California Almond Objective Report. 1 0 A L M O N D F A C T S