California Business Minute™

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

Central Valley walnut growers are very happy this year as they expected to harvest
375,000 tons of walnuts. That calculates to the weight of nearly 4 aircraft carriers.

Ninety-nine percent of all walnuts grown in the United States are grown in California,
specifically across the Central Valley and in coastal regions as well.

The 2008 California walnut production forecast is up 15 percent from 2007's production
of 325,000 tons. The National Agricultural Statistics Service forecast is based on a survey
conducted Aug. 1-Aug. 25. Survey data indicated an average nut set of 1,416 per tree, up
4 percent from 2007’s average of 1,357.

As it pertains to varieties, specifically for those of you who are bakers or that make ice cream,
you should find adequate supplies of both light and dark colored walnuts but if you are looking
at availability, here’s the breakdown: The Hartley variety nut set was down 14 percent; Chandler
was up 33 percent; and Serr was down 20 percent from 2007. The percentage of sound kernels
in-shell was 98 percent statewide.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.