In W23 in the almond landscape, it was reported that the Georgia's Association of Almond and Walnut Growers identified Germany, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Persian Gulf as key export markets for Georgian almonds and walnuts. Georgia aims to position its products as premium quality, but currently imports most of its nuts from Ukraine and Spain. Also, Brightseed and Blue Diamond, two major almond sellers, have discovered 188 bioactive compounds in almonds with potential health benefits. This opens up new possibilities for almonds in the food and beverage industry and addresses consumer demand for healthier options. Further research and exploration of almond's nutritional benefits are planned. If results are positive, this would increase the global demand for almonds.
Unfavorable weather conditions in Almería, Spain have caused extensive damage to almond and cherry crops, resulting in an estimated 70% loss in cherry production as well as impacts on almond and strawberry crops. Meanwhile, almond cultivation in the province of Córdoba has surpassed citrus fruits in terms of profitability, with irrigated areas yielding up to 1 thousand kg per hectare compared to 200 kg in the drylands regions. The high market prices of around USD 3.23/kg have attracted farmers to almond cultivation. To address challenges in the almond industry, the DECALMOND project has been introduced, focusing on identifying the causes of almond decline syndrome in Andalusia and promoting collaboration between researchers and industry stakeholders for sustainable solutions. The estimated almond production for this year in Spain is 48.9 thousand mt, a 75.78% increase compared to the previous season. While there have been good weather conditions during flowering, insufficient rainfall and the presence of the almond moth may affect the final production. Almond prices in Spain have generally decreased, except for organic almonds. Rainfall has been insufficient in some areas, potentially affecting the final production. The Cordoba Market saw significant price drops of USD 0.33/kg in some almond varieties, while other markets also experienced decreases. The almond market remains stagnant with low demand, but the organic almond prices remain stable.
