A Budding Nut

In the fall, the very first flower parts begin to appear around the edges of the growing buds.  These tiny green buds remain dormant until early January.

Bees and Blossoms

A milder January and February results in an explosion of spectacular, pinkish-white almond blossoms.  Because almond trees require cross-pollination, at least two different varieties of trees are necessary for a successful pollination.  During this important phase, honeybees are brought in to shuttle pollen from the flowers of one variety of almond tree to the flowers of another so that fertilization can occur.  Without the help of the bees, almond trees would be unable to produce nuts.

Fuzzy Fruit

After the last petals drop and the tree's branches are think with leaves, fuzzy green fruit begins to appear.  This fruit, known as the "hull", will be the nutrient source which encases the nuts outside shell and nut meat as they grow through the spring and early summer.  By the time July rolls around, the inner shell has hardened to protect the nutmeat and the fuzzy hull begins to dry and split on the tree.  This signals that the nuts are ready for harvest.

The Big Shakedown

Around harvest time, orchard floors are first swept clear of debris, and mechanical "tree shakers" shake the in-hull nuts to the ground where they remain for a brief period of time to dry.  Piled into rows, the dried nuts are then collected and taken away to be hulled and processes.

For more information about almonds, please visit: Almond Board of California.