New Almond Hybrids to Hit Market

WASHINGTON, D.C.USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have developed self-pollinating almond hybrids that also have shown the capability to produce a bountiful harvestan important development at a time when colony collapse disorder has contributed to a nationwide shortage of pollinating honey bees.

This work began in the mid-1990s with the first plantings of specially bred self-pollinating seedlings. Now those plantings are yielding economically advantageous harvests. ARS brought eight promising hybrid selections to the Almond Board of California, Modesto, for analysis and review. The Almond Board approved of the hybrid almonds skin color, oil content and flavor, and noted that the new almonds display many of the same characteristics as Nonpareil almonds, which command a premium price on the market.