When: February 16
National Almond Day celebrates the most widely consumed tree nut on earth, a fruit that has been cultivated in the Middle East for at least 5,000 years, and an agricultural system that puts 80% of global production in one drought-prone region of California. Almonds are in more foods than most people realize and more environmentally contentious than most people discuss.
The almond is the world's most widely cultivated tree nut — and California grows 80% of the global supply, which is either impressive or alarming depending on how you feel about water.
Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are native to the Middle East and South Asia, cultivated from at least 3000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent. They were a prized food in ancient Egypt (golden almond branches were found in Tutankhamun's tomb), in ancient Rome (guests at Roman weddings were given almonds as fertility symbols), and throughout the medieval spice and nut trade. They arrived in California through Spanish missionaries in the 18th century. California's almond industry is extraordinary in its scale: the Central Valley produces approximately 80% of the world's commercial almond supply, exporting to China, India, Spain, Germany, and Japan. This concentration creates significant agricultural vulnerability — a disease, pest, or extended drought (all increasingly relevant) affecting California almonds affects global almond supply. The water debate around almonds has become highly visible: a single almond requires approximately 1.1 gallons of water to produce, and California almond cultivation...