2009 Top Nut Growers
Welcome to the 2009 edition of American/Western Fruit Grower’s Top Nut Growers report. Each year we survey California’s largest almond, walnut, and pistachio growing operations for inclusion on this prestigious list. The list is ranked according to 2008 acreage that is owned or leased by one company that is responsible for maintaining it.
Along with 2008 acreage figures, the list also includes changes in acres from the previous year. In 2008, there was a net increase of 3,405 acres for all of the companies that comprise the Top Nut Growers list. Farmland Management Services (#2 on the list) in Turlock and Farmers International (#14) in Chico saw the largest individual gains in acreage.
Water Management
With the drought in California, water use efficiency is a more important issue than ever — especially for those growers who farm on thousands of acres. We asked some of the growers on this year’s list what they are doing to improve water use efficiency.
“We always watch our soil moisture with Irrometers and watch evapotranspiration data as well,” says Mohnish Seth of Farmers International, which grows almonds. “This year we are also investing in new technology from the company PureSense, who is going to install soil probes based on the soil profiles in our orchards. We are hoping with a more accurate monitoring system, we should be able to apply water effectively and in the area where we need it most.
“In our newer development, we are also opting for more water efficient irrigation systems like microsprinklers and drip irrigation systems.”
Kevin Herman of The Specialty Crop Company, an almond and pistachio grower in Madera, says most of their water is derived from irrigation wells. “Normally, we test our wells once a year to determine the flow rate, pumping efficiency, and water depth. But due to the increased pumping by many of our neighbors and the associated extra demand placed on groundwater, we are now testing many of our wells two or three times per year. We have found that by being proactive in the ‘health’ of our wells, we can both keep our energy costs down and also better schedule our irrigations to match the trees’ need with our pumping capacity.”
Top Nut Growers |
|||||||
Rank
|
Company Name |
Year Founded
|
Nut Acreage
|
Crops Grown
|
Total Acreage
|
2008 Rank (Acreage Change) | |
1
|
Paramount Farming |
1986
|
70,000 | Almonds, Pistachios, Citrus | 90,000 | 1 (-2,000) | |
2
|
Farmland Management Services |
1986
|
21,337 | Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Winegrapes, Apples, Pears, Prunes, Cherries | 30,073 | 2 (+1,321) | |
3
|
Braden Farms |
1959
|
13,954 |
Almonds, Walnuts, Winegrapes
|
15,270 | 3 (+950) | |
4
|
South Valley Farms |
1985
|
10,993*
|
Almonds, Pistachios | 10,993 | 4 (n/c) | |
5
|
Agriland Farming |
1990
|
10,494
|
Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Grapes, Figs, Prunes, Pomegranates |
12,928
|
5 (+467) | |
6
|
Premiere Entities c/o Westchester Group |
1986
|
8,929 |
Almonds, Pistachios, Winegrapes, Cherries, Apples
|
12,705 | 6 (-174) | |
7
|
Deseret Farms |
1960
|
8,324*
|
Almonds, Walnuts, Prunes | 9,938 | 7 (n/c) | |
8
|
Cummings-Violich Inc. |
1989
|
7,465 |
Almonds, Walnuts
|
7,465
|
8 (-162) | |
9
|
Woolf Enterprises |
1974
|
7,212 |
Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Winegrapes
|
8,412 | 9 (-258) | |
10
|
Eastside Management/ Montpelier Nut Co. |
1985
|
6,200 | Almonds |
6,200
|
11 (+251) | |
11
|
Russell Harris Farms | 1988 | 5,662 | Almonds, Pistachios, Winegrapes |
6,413
|
17 (+1,200) | |
12
|
Meyers Farming | 1970 | 5,600 | Almonds |
5,600
|
12 (+100) | |
13
|
LCP Services-Kooyman | 2003 | 5,509 | Almonds |
5,509
|
— (n/a) | |
14
|
Farmers International | 2001 | 5,500 | Almonds |
5,500
|
22 (+2,800) | |
15
|
Lassen Land Co. | 1970 | 5,477 | Almonds, Walnuts |
5,477
|
13 (n/c) | |
16
|
Baker Farming | 1993 | 5,211 |
Almonds, Pistachios, Winegrapes, Pomegranates
|
7,495
|
14 (n/c) | |
17
|
Campos Brothers Farms |
1955
|
5,000* | Almonds |
5,000
|
15 (n/c) | |
17
|
S & J Ranch |
1950
|
5,000* | Almonds, Pistachios |
5,000
|
15 (n/c) | |
19
|
Lent-Burden Farming, Inc. |
1993
|
3,872 | Almonds, Walnuts, Winegrapes |
6,232
|
18 (-291) | |
20
|
Thiara Brothers Orchards | 1964 | 3,550* | Almonds |
3,550
|
19 (n/c) | |
21
|
Greenleaf Farms |
1972
|
2,931 | Almonds, Walnuts |
2,931
|
21 (+131) | |
22
|
The Specialty Crop Company | 1989 | 2,927 | Almonds, Pistachios, Figs, Pomegranates | 7,752 | 20 (-490) | |
23
|
Rosedale Farms | 2002 | 2,531 | Almonds | 2,531 | 23 (n/c) | |
24
|
Roy A. Johnson Farms | 1961 | 2,400 | Almonds | 2,400 | 24 (n/c) | |
25
|
S & F Farms |
1979
|
1,930 | Almonds, Walnuts | 1,930 | 25 (-440) | |
*estimated acreage n/c = no change |