The New ‘Parpareil’ Almond Cultivar Is Here

The highly anticipated new almond cultivar ‘Parpareil’ from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will soon be accessible to almond growers.

Named after Parlier, CA, and the popular ‘Nonpareil’ almond variety, ‘Parpareil’ was selected for its superior nut quality that rivals the premium flavor, physical properties, and processing of the ‘Nonpareil’ variety. ‘Parpareil’, which received approval for public release in July 2025,  is also self-compatible and requires fewer honey bees to transfer pollen from flower to flower to fertilize the blossoms and produce nuts for a successful harvest.

USDA’s ARS research team worked with university and industry stakeholders in assessing the cultivar’s potential for commercial production. Rigorous regional variety trials conducted by the Almond Board of California and the University of California confirmed ‘Parpareil’ had high-producing yields and desired qualities.

“Beyond its impressive yields, ‘Parpareil’ boasts a host of desirable traits: an early harvest, a high crackout rate, and minimal issues with doubles, twins, creases, or damage from the dreaded navel orangeworm, a primary moth pest found in California’s almond orchards,” says Rodrigo Krugner, Research Leader at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center’s Crop Diseases, Pests, and Genetics Research Unit in Parlier. “Its kernels are light, smooth, and sweet. The outer casing of the almond fruit, known as the hull, opens fully. Plus, it shows no particular susceptibility to diseases. These combined qualities make ‘Parpareil’ a highly anticipated addition for almond nurseries and growers.”

For more details about ‘Parpareil’, continue reading at scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov.