An April 2024 USDA survey found that farmers in Kings County removed 1,380 acres with 13,600 acres left standing while in Tulare County, farmers removed 2,500 acres with 30,500 acres left. The massive reduction is due in part to the industry doubling its acreage since 2020. That was followed by the covid pandemic, a port strike that hurt shipments and then stiff competition from foreign countries which reduced US exports, Beede said. Last holiday season, Chile took over the Christmas market, a busy walnut sales period popular for baking.
