Modesto (California): Most Indians swear by their daily handful of almonds, and with the staggering 85 per cent of those in India coming from California, Emily Fleischmann, vice president of global market development at the Almond Board of California (ABC), says India has played a “critical role” in the remarkable success story of California almonds.
India, the largest export market and second-largest overall market for California almonds after the USA (728 million pounds), received shipments surpassing a record 400 million in 2023-24, marking an impressive 21 percent growth compared to the previous year.
“Soaking almonds overnight and giving three to five doses to kids before they head to school, or even enjoying them as an adult, is a common practice in India. Even the belief that almonds enhance mental acuity creates a special dynamic that no other market worldwide shares.
“So, yes, India has played a critical role in the growth story of California almonds, and the numbers speak for themselves — from 100 million pounds of consumption a decade ago to now over 400 million pounds. California represents 85 percent of the market share of almonds going into India,” Fleischmann told PTI in an interview.
According to the top ABC official, in crop year 2023-24, the American state of California grew 76 per cent of the world’s almonds, followed by Australia and Spain, which grew 7 percent each.
The other countries include Turkiye (2 per cent), and Italy, Portugal, Morocco, China, Chile and Tunisia — all one per cent each, she added.
