Is Consuming Almonds Ethical Food?

The topic of ethical food selection comes up every now and then. Let's face it, some food sources have a greater impact on the environment than we might like. I will try to address these concerns as it pertains to almond production. I'll go through each concern and give you a fair farmer's opinion of the impact.

I'll start by pointing out farmers are generally very caurtious about negatively impacting the environment, they depend on it for their livelihood. Organic farmers are even more concerned.

Almond Biodiversity

Potential Ethical Concerns:

• Water Usage:

  Contrary to rumor, almonds are not water-intensive! The rumor started from a poorly written major newspaper in New York. It did not compare almonds with other foods, nor disclose that farmers are growing 3 commercial products when they produce almonds (kernal, hull and shell). I wrote an entire blog on this topic. https://www.chorganicalmonds.com/post/do-almonds-use-alot-of-water, It is true that there are some regions in California (parts of Tulare) that have very poor ground water availability (well water) and during poor rain seasons, surface water (reserviors) are inadequate to supply enough water. This reality would be true for any crop!, not just almonds.  

• Bee Health:

  Almond pollination relies heavily on bee pollination. Almond pollen is a superior nutrition for bees. There are about 1.5 million acres of California almonds that need bees for 2-3 weeks in February. Depending on each growers circumstances, they may need to contract polination services out to an apiary that may truck the bees, sometimes, hundreds or even thousands of miles away. So just like humans, travelling can induce stress. Just how much stress still lacks complete scientific data.

  At Capay Hills Orchard, our bees come from our neighbor bee keeper, 1000 ft away. We also maintain bee habitat and food sources 365 days of the year. We are certified with Bee Friendly Farming. We follow strict procedures to ensure zero negative impact on bee health.

  
  

  Bee keepers go to great efforts to ensure their bees are healthy and ready for the trip. The are many percieved stressors: temperature, changes in barometric pressure, humidity, turbulent airflow, diesel exhaust, and vibration but I am only aware of research regarding temperature. The practice of transporting hives is monitored by state and federal agencies who release annual reports regarding the health, winter survival, and inventory of the nation’s honey bees.

  
  

  Honey bees are one of the few insect species that can thermoregulate much higher than ambient temperatures. They are quite capable at generating their own heat to keep themselves 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit in their hives. So during winter travel, they can stay warm. Summer travel could be stressful since they can't cool themselves. According to research published in Environmental Entomology in June 2019, they measured changes in stress response before departure, immediately after arrival, and after a two-week recovery period, using gene expression as indicators. They found that genes associated with chill stress, immune function, defense response, and methylation increased after the hives were relocated, which all decreased after the recovery period.

  
  

  In January 2019, the California Almond Board announced a five-point plan to improve honeybee health. This primarily involves supporting other organizations to encourage farmers to plant bee forage and digitally map the locations of beehives for improved pest control. It also provided guidance for spray timing and application procedures.

  

  Bee Pollinating an Almond Blossom

• Pesticide Use:

  Pesticides used in almond farming can have detrimental effects on biodiversity and pollinator health, potentially affecting the wider ecosystem and water supply.  I can't argue with this statement except for those growers like Capay Hills Orchard who are organic certified, we don't use such pesticides at all. Instead of pesticides, we rely on maintaining biodiversity, cultural practices and good bugs eating bad bugs as our pest control system plan. You can read more here: https://www.chorganicalmonds.com/about-us

• Land Use:

  The expansion of almond orchards can lead to habitat loss and displacement of other species. This statement is true and false. While it is true native land is changed, it DOES NOT mean that there will be habitat loss. Almond orchards provide a habitat for many wonderful insects, birds, deer, foxes, turkeys, etc. I say the loss is negligible to zero.

• Transportation:

  The long-distance transportation of almonds, often from California to other parts of the world, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. This is true, but in perspective it's a non issue. Unless you rely 100% on food from your own property area, there is going to be some impact, HOWEVER, almond trees also sequester carbon! Organic operations like Capay Hills Orchard which maintains hedgerows and plant cover crops also sequester carbon. We probably sequester more carbon than we use.

Ethical Considerations when Comparing to Other Foods:

• Animal Products:

  Almonds are often cited as a more ethical choice than animal products, particularly dairy, due to the lower environmental impact (e.g., water usage, greenhouse gas emissions) and the absence of animal suffering involved in almond production. 

• Other Nuts:

  Some alternative nuts, like hazelnuts and walnuts, are pollinated by wind and may have a lower environmental impact compared to almonds. 

Mitigating Ethical Concerns:

• Organic Almonds:

  Choosing organic almonds is a no-brainer for anyone who wishes to source food from grower system plans which limit impact on the environment and in many cases, improve it. 

• Sustainable Practices:

  Supporting almond farmers who implement water-saving irrigation techniques (like drip irrigation) and other sustainable practices can help minimize environmental impact. 

  Support almond growers who plant a cover crop

  Support almond growers that maintain a hedgerow habitat for insects and animals.

• Alternatives:

  Exploring alternative plant-based milk options like almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or pea milk, which generally have lower water footprints, can be a more sustainable choice.

In conclusion, almonds are not inherently unethical, their production can raise some environmental and ethical questions, but by making smart choices, consumers can be confident they are eating well and not damaging the environment. Buy Organic. Buy Capay Hills Orchard almonds.

Comparing the ethical implications of almonds to other food choices, especially animal products, is also crucial.

What do you think? Please make a comment.  Be sure to share this article with your friends who might be interested and who are looking for a top notch orchard to buy real almonds from.

Brian

The Farmer

Almonds may not be cheap, but they are cheaper than the doctor or hospital. Eat well, live well, and support your organic farmer and family farm.

You can buy unpasteurized raw almonds and almond butter directly from the California farmer at Capay Hills Orchard. Order off the website, www.chorganicalmonds.com or call or text 530-507-8222.

Native California Fuchsia