Large Walnut Crop Forecast for California

During its summer meeting, The Independent Walnut Handlers Association issued its subjective crop estimate for the upcoming 2008 California walnut crop. The estimate was put at 374,900 tons, an increase of 16% over last year's crop of 323,000 tons.

Handlers from all regions of the growing area of California commented on the size and quality of the crop at this stage of its development. All varieties appear to have average to heavy crops, with Tulare, Vina, and Chandler being particularly heavy.

Blight damage has been minimal, owing to the very dry late winter and early spring in California during the walnut bloom.

If the crop estimate is accurate, the 2008 crop will be California's largest on record, exceeding the previous record of 354,000 tons in 2005.