In W22 in the almond landscape, it was reported that the 40th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, organized by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), took place in London, bringing together nearly 1.3K attendees from 65 countries. The event focused on market developments, the latest research on health and nut allergy, and sustainable growth in the industry. Industry leaders participated in roundtable discussions and projected global nut production for 2023/24 to reach 5.7M metric tons (excluding in-shell pistachios), a 5% increase compared to the previous season. While it is still early to make definitive predictions, almond, walnut, cashew, hazelnut, and pecan crops are expected to remain stable or experience slight growth compared to the previous season. Lastly, the Walnut and Almond Growers Association of Georgia surveyed 180 farmers who harvested approximately 1.3K tons of almonds and 2K tons of walnuts (Chandler) from commercial orchards in 2022/23. The farmers expect to harvest 2K tons of almonds and 3K tons of walnuts in 2023. The demand and consumption of almonds in the Georgian market are low, necessitating the exploration of new markets. Plans are underway to build two almond processing factories to facilitate exports, as there is significant interest from Persian Gulf countries. Additionally, crushed almonds will be supplied to the market, replacing imports. Georgia has increased almond imports, with the United States and Turkey being the leading suppliers. The profitability of the almond and walnut industry in Georgia is improving, thanks to investments and the growing agronomic knowledge of farmers. The industry has attracted international investments, and the association plans to bring in American and Spanish agronomists for training and knowledge sharing. The association anticipates its first commercial harvest in 2023 and aims to export its products to various countries, including the Persian Gulf, Switzerland, and Germany.
