LOS ANGELES, July 7 (Xinhua) -- California's almond production this year will be up 5.1 percent from that of last year's to hit a record of 2.25 billion pounds (1.02 million tons), according to a report released Friday by the U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The forecast was based on a measurement by the NASS carried out between March 26 to June 23, with 1,704 trees sampled from 852 orchards.
Due to unfavorable weather, the average production was estimated to be 7.2 percent lower year-on-year, just over 5,700 almonds per tree, the report said.
But thanks to a rapid increase in new almond plantings, the overall output of California's almonds will still be much higher than last year, it said.
California produces about 80 percent of the world's almond supply. Much of these almonds are exported, bringing in billions of dollars in revenue for the state.
