Product Uses

Food Uses (2016) 1

Almonds are a nutrient-dense nut that can be roasted and eaten plain as a snack, or used as an ingredient in other dishes to add texture and protein. Almonds can also be processed into almond flour, almond butter, almond paste, and almond milk for consumption and use as ingredients.

Non-Food Uses (2016) 2

Almond hulls can be used as feed for livestock, and almond oil also a common additive to cosmetics.

Food Product Codes

Standards and Grades

CODEX Standards 6

CAC/RCP 6-1972

Code of Hygienic Practice for Tree Nuts

FDA Standard of Identity 7

No FDA Standard of Identity was located for this food product.

USDA Grades (2022) 8

In-Shell: U.S. No. 1- almonds in shell which are of similar varietal characteristics and free from loose extraneous and foreign material. The shells are clean, fairly bright, fairly uniform color, and free from damage caused by discoloration, adhering hulls, broken shells or other means. The kernels are well dried, free from decay, rancidity, and free from damage caused by insects, mold, gum, skin discoloration, shriveling, brown spot or other means.
U.S. No. 2- almonds in the shell which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade, except that an additional tolerance of 20% shall be allowed for almonds with shells damaged by discoloration.
Shelled: U.S. Fancy- tolerances allowed: 5% for dissimilar varieties, 3% for doubles, 5% for kernels injured by chipping and/or scratching, 0.05% for foreign material (not including glass and metal), 0.10% for particles and dust, and 2% for other defects.
U.S. Extra No. 1- tolerances allowed: 5% for dissimilar varieties, 5% for doubles, 5% for kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching, 0.05% for foreign material (not including glass and metal), 0.10% for particles and dust, 4% for other defects.

U.S. No. 1- tolerances allowed: 5% for dissimilar varieties, 15% for doubles, 10% for kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching, 0.05% for foreign material (not including glass and metal), 0.10% for particles, 5% for other defects.
U.S. Select Sheller Run- tolerances allowed: 5% for dissimilar varieties, 15% for doubles, 20% for kernels damaged by chipping and/ or scratching, 0.10 for foreign material (not including glass and metal), 0.10% for particles and dust, 5% for split and broken kernels, 3% for other defects.
U.S. Standard Sheller Run- tolerances allowed: 5% for dissimilar varieties, 25% for doubles, 35% for kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching or split and broken, 0.20% for foreign material (not including glass and metal), 0.10% for particles and dust, 3% for other defects. U.S. No. 1: In this grade, no less than 30%, by weight, of the kernels shall be whole. Doubles shall not be considered as whole kernels in determining the percentage of whole kernels. Tolerances allowed: 5% for dissimilar varieties, 35% for doubles, 0.20% for foreign materials (not including glass and metal), 0.10% for particles and dust, 5% for undersize, and 5% for other defects.
U.S. No. 1 Pieces- Unless otherwise specified, the minimum diameter shall be not less than 3.2 mm. Tolerances allowed: 1% for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds, 0.20% for foreign material (not including glass and metal), 1% for particles and dust, 5% for other defects.

Consumption, Production and Trade

Estimated Consumption of Almonds in the United States per capita 2007 - 2020 9

updated March, 2023

Annual Value of Almonds Production in the United States (2015-2021) 10

Updated April, 2023.

Annual Quantity of Almonds Produced in the United States (2015-2021) 10

Updated April, 2023.

United States Import Patterns (2015) 11

Almond imports are relatively steady throughout the year, increasing gradually as the growing season progresses, and peaks in December immediately after the growing season has ended.

Monthly Imports of Almonds into the United States (2015-2022) 11

USDA import data FAS category "Almonds". Updated May, 2023.

US Imports and Exports by Value (2015-2022) 11

USDA import data FAS category "Almonds". Updated May, 2023.
USDA export data FAS category "Almonds". Updated May, 2023.

US Imports and Exports by Quantity 11

USDA import data FAS category "Almonds". Updated May, 2023.
USDA export data FAS category "Almonds". Updated May, 2023.

Historic Global Production of Almonds (2019) 12

Historic Global Value of Almonds (2016) 12

Updated 2020.

Active anti-dumping/countervailing duties 13

Based on the list of antidumping and countervailing duty orders current as of July 1, 2020, there are no active antidumping or countervailing duties for this product.

Processing and Supply Chain Characteristics

Seasonality Profile 14

Almond trees do best in environments with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. In the United States, almonds are in season August-November, but can be found in supermarkets year-round. The vast majority of the almonds in the United States are grown in California, but they are also found in warmer, temperate climates in Europe and the Middle East.

Supply Chain Characteristics 15

1.) Almond Grower, 2.) Huller/Shellers, 3.) Handler, 4.) Export Market/ Further Processing/ Consumers

Way Exported

No typical export methods were located for this product.

Shipping pattern into US

No typical shipping patterns into the US were located for this product.

Typical Packaging 16

Almonds are typically sealed in plastic bags or tin cans for easy snacking.

Food Safety and Defense

Key Activity Type - Coating/Mixing/Grinding/Rework 17

Yes, coating/mixing/grinding/rework.

Key Activity Type - Ingredient Staging/Prep/Addition 17

No

Key Activity Type - Liquid Receiving/Loading 17

No

Key Activity Type - Liquid Storage/Hold/Surge Tanks 17

No

Recall history 18

Through 2016, almond products have been recalled for containing undeclared peanuts, undeclared hazelnuts and metal fragments. Several almond and almond-containing products have been recalled between 2011 and 2015 due to Clostridium botulinum and Listeria monocytogenes. Across 2017 to 2018, there were three recalls on almonds for undeclared cashews. In 2018, there were two recalls on chocolate covered almonds containing undeclared milk product.

Foodborne illness pathogens 19

Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes

List of past EMA adulterants 20

Peanut powder, bleaching agents, substandard storage

Current issues (2014) 21

California, the only U.S. state that commercially produces almonds, has been undergoing harsh droughts in recent years. Almonds are a crop that needs a constant supply of water, with each almond requiring 1.1 gallons of water to grow. Not only has the dry weather caused prices of almonds to spike, but it is also causing a rising environmental concerns. Water is being diverted from natural sources to sustain almond crops, causing reduction in water levels and putting fish populations at risk (including the endangered king salmon). However, the almond industry shows no sign of halting growth, due to still-increasing consumer demand.