| Harvest Video |
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GROWTH CYCLE OF AN ORGANIC
ALMOND DORMANCY
Cold winter weather helps the tree rest before the next growing
begins. |
| BLOOM |
| A good chill, followed by early spring weather,
elicits the first almond blossoms. At this time, bee hives are
brought into the orchards for pollination. From this point on,
the orchards must be frost-free, with minimal rain. |
| POST BLOOM |
| After pollination, petals drop, trees leaf
out and first signs of fuzzy gray-green nuts appear. With warmer
weather, the crops matures rapidly. Growers are busy irrigating,
spreading compost, planting cover crops to increase nitrogen
& protect against insect damage. |
| IMMATURE NUT |
| Growth of the hull and shell is rapid. During
this stage, some of the small nuts cease to mature and eventually
drop off the tree. The potential size of the nut crop is estimated. |
| MATURE NUT |
| As the fruit reaches full size, the shell
begins to harden. The approach of maturity is signaled when
the hull splits along the suture line and gradually separates
from the shell and begins to dry. |
| HULL SPLIT |
| As the split widens, the shell is exposed.
The kernels start to dry, and the nut and stem begin to separate. |
| HARVEST |
| Mechanical tree shakers knock the almonds
to the ground, where they are allowed to dry before they are
swept into rows and picked up by machine. Baugher Ranch Produce
harvests with draft horses versus mechanical shakers, pulling
tarps with nuts, decreasing shock to the trees & air pollution. |
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