Report, in a nutshell: Almonds bring $21B to California

Published on 12/09/2014 - 3:18 pm

Written by Business Journal staff

A new report has found that almonds pack a wallop to the state's economy of $21 billion. Almonds create about 104,000 jobs and generate more than $21 billion in gross revenue for California, according to a new study from the University of California Agricultural Issues Center (AIC).

Altogether, the almond industry pumps about $11 billion into the total Gross State Product of around $2 trillion.

"As a major part of California agriculture, generating about 15 percent of the value of California farm output and almost 25 percent of agricultural exports, the California almond industry is a major contributor to a healthy and vibrant agriculture and a sound California economy needed to offer economic opportunity in the state," according to the report, which was led by AIC Director Dr. Daniel Sumner.

The study highlights the industry's ripple effect throughout the economy as almond growers support other businesses by buying goods and services. About 75 percent of the 104,000 jobs created by almonds are actually outside the farms and processing plants. About 21,000 are direct almond farm jobs.

The Central Valley region accounts for about 97,000 almond jobs, according to the report.

"Almonds have become a crop of choice in California because California is one of the only places in the world to effectively grow them," said Almond Board of California CEO Richard Waycott. "This report shows how that advantage is translating into value — not just for growers but for their communities and the state as a whole."

The full report can be found online at http://aic.ucdavis.edu/almonds/.

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