Fresno County grower reacts to almond harvest amid expectations for record season

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Growers across the San Joaquin Valley are in the thick of almond harvest season.

A United States Department of Agriculture report from July forecasted big expectations for what they predicted to be a near record breaking California almond harvest season. 

But growers like John Chandler from Selma are seeing the reality of this season a bit differently. 

“It’s been kind of hit and miss. Some fields have been doing well and some fields have not been doing well,” Chandler, a fourth-generation grower said. 

While walking through his family’s property in Selma, Chandler picked almonds straight from the tree and described the different varieties he has on his farm. 

His family has been growing almonds, citrus and grapes for decades. 

Chandler says they still have a way to go, and while they’ve harvested some of the almond varieties on his property there’s plenty more work to do. 

“It’s a busy time, but, you know, I’m a little bit disappointed with some of our yields. I wish it was a little bit higher. I wish the price was a little bit better, as all growers do. But, you know, the trees are in the ground, so we’re going to harvest them no matter what,” Chandler said. 

Ahead of the harvest, the USDA projected a near record breaking harvest season for California almond growers. At the time, a report from the department forecasted the state could see three billion pounds of almonds harvested. If that happens, the state will see a 10% larger almond crop than the previous year.

The report from the USDA said mild springtime temps and just the right amount of rain helped the nuts grow. Chandler says right now, it’s hard for him to say for sure how exactly his harvest will round out. 

Another thing in the back of his mind are the tariffs and the ever-changing international landscape. He’s happy about the prospects of fair trade but said they’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out. 

“It’s definitely very early to tell. And I think everyone’s going to be watching it very closely, particularly after the harvest is done. And we really start watching where these almonds go,” he said. 

With the rain last week and early Tuesday morning, Chandler says his crops weren’t impacted by that too much and today’s heat was able to help dry down the nuts very quickly.