California drought takes toll on world’s top almond producer


















ASSOCIATED PRESS
Low water levels are seen in Lake Oroville, one of California's largest reservoirs, in Oroville, Calif., on July 16. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this aerial photo is an abandoned almond orchard in Newman, Calif., on July 20. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Farmer Joe Del Bosque inspects almonds in his orchard in Firebaugh, Calif., on July 9. He is considering tearing one of his almond orchards later this year if the water situation doesn't improve. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Almonds, still in their green hulls, hang on a tree at an orchard owned by farmer Joe Del Bosque in Firebaugh, Calif., on July 9. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jim Jasper, owner of Stewart & Jasper Orchards, stands in an almond orchard owned by one of his clients in Newman, Calif., on July 20. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Employees inspect almonds in the processing facility at Steward & Jasper Orchards in Newman, Calif., on July 20. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shelled almonds pour out of a machine in the nut processing facility at Steward & Jasper Orchards in Newman, Calif., on July 20. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Employees inspect almonds in the processing facility at Steward & Jasper Orchards in Newman, Calif. on July 20. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rick Marcoux, processing manager at Stewart & Jasper Orchards, stands in a storage facility with boxes of almonds in Newman, Calif., on July 20. California's deepening drought threatens its $6 billion almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's almonds. As water becomes scarce and expensive, some growers have stopped irrigating their orchards and plan to tear them out years earlier than planned.