I recently visited Yosemite while traveling for work. During the drive we passed many farms of almond groves and I couldn't help but think of the recent articles I've been seeing involving that little nut.
Many articles are popping up that place blame for California's drought on the production of almonds. There are claims that it takes 1 gallon of water to produce 1 almond. WOAH! Whether or not that is true, it is clear that producing almonds is a lot of time and money.
So why do we continue to produce this food? Well, the industry will continue to produce if the consumers will continue to purchase these goods. A recent NPR article states that farmers have stopped producing tomatoes and melons to begin producing almonds because the almond market has risen to almost 5 billion dollars.
We can see this growth in our grocery stores, TV commercials and local Starbucks. A few years ago Americans began feeling that dairy was harsh on their bodies and digestive systems. Many consumers began switching to non-dairy milks such as soy and almond for their dairy needs.
Almond milk seems to be the popular choice amongst Americans today. For good reason too. Milk derived from Almonds is much lower in calories and carbohydrates than milk derived from cows. For example, 1 cup of almond milk is 40 calories and 2g of carbohydrates, compared to 1% lowfat cow's milk with 110 calories and 12g of carbohydrates. And it tastes sweeter, too.
So I ask, is it better for these farmers to produce a highly demanded good even if it means risking water levels for the rest of the state? Are there others areas that can produce almond trees with less harshness to the community? Is consuming almond milk a fad, or will it be around for years to come?
Pictures of Yosemite:
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