Almond

Today, the world almond market is dominated by the United States, with California being its largest producer. With a mild climate, fertile land, and abundant sunlight, California produces about 80% of the world's almond crop and exports to nearly a hundred countries. The California almond industry uses state-of-the-art equipment and specialized growing, harvesting, processing and packaging techniques to ensure a consistent, high-quality and wholesome product. California almonds are available in a large number of varieties and forms suitable for various product applications. Almonds can be classified by the hardness of their shell into two types: soft-shelled, grown mainly in California, and hard-shelled, grown in Spain. And depending on its flavor, there are two types of almonds: sweet almond, which is what we consume as a dry fruit, and bitter almond, which is not edible. The almond is usually consumed whole, raw (with skin or peeled) or roasted, and can also be marketed processed in slices, granules, etc. This dried fruit provides many benefits for our health. It is one of the richest non-animal sources of calcium and is also characterized by the contribution of other minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It has a high content of unsaturated fats (oleic acid), and its consumption helps us control triglyceride levels and the cardiovascular system in general. On the other hand, almonds have a high fiber content, are an excellent source of energy and provide antioxidants that delay aging. The almond is a fundamental ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, both in sweet and savory dishes, and is also widely used in Asian cuisine. Without a doubt, it is an essential food in a healthy diet, recommending consuming between 20 and 25 almonds a day.

The almond first arrived in Australia in 1836, on board the Duke of York. The first almond trees were planted on Kangaroo Island and in Central Adelaide in southern Australia, from where little by little it spread to other areas of the country. The almond industry in Australia has grown significantly in recent years, reaching 120 metric tons in 2021, although well below the production of the United States, with California being its largest producer. Almonds can be classified by the hardness of their shell into two types: soft-shelled and hard-shelled. And depending on its flavor, there are two types of almond: sweet almond, which is what we consume as a dry fruit, and bitter almond, which is not edible. The almond is usually consumed whole, raw (with skin or peeled) or roasted, and can also be marketed processed in slices, granules, etc. This dried fruit provides many benefits for our health. It is one of the richest non-animal sources of calcium and is also characterized by the contribution of other minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It has a high content of unsaturated fats (oleic acid), and its consumption helps us control triglyceride levels and the cardiovascular system in general. On the other hand, almonds have a high fiber content, are an excellent source of energy and provide antioxidants that delay aging. The almond is a fundamental ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, both in sweet and savory dishes, and is also widely used in Asian cuisine. Without a doubt, it is an essential food in a healthy diet, recommending consuming between 20 and 25 almonds a day.

The Chilean almond has a number of advantages over other producing countries: the fact of being located in the southern hemisphere, unlike the main world producers, allows the Chilean almond industry to offer a fresher product during six months a year; It suffers from few pests, which implies an almond with a lower chemical load; the absence in laboratory analysis of aflatoxin, a fungus that affects almonds; and finally, the rich flavor of the Chilean almond, perhaps due to its climatic conditions. The almond tree is a large deciduous fruit tree with a Mediterranean climate that survives in very difficult conditions, it is very tolerant to drought, but not so much to cold. A characteristic of the almond tree is that it is not a self-pollinating tree: pollination is carried out by bees, which fly when the heat arrives and thus the pollen is properly released. Flowering takes place in March, but the fruit has a ripening period of nine months. In Chile, almond plantations are concentrated in the central zone of the country, from Rancagua to the north.

The almond sector in Spain has been growing significantly in recent years, betting on organic farming. The almond tree is a large deciduous fruit tree with a Mediterranean climate that survives in very difficult conditions, it is very tolerant to drought, but not so much to cold. A characteristic of the almond tree is that it is not a self-pollinating tree: pollination is carried out by bees, which fly when the heat arrives and thus the pollen is properly released. Flowering takes place in March, but the fruit has a ripening period of nine months. The almond is a dry fruit that contributes to cardiovascular health, by reducing cholesterol. They are also rich in fiber, antioxidants and with some protein value. It also highlights its satiating power, so, when eaten between meals, they help control weight.