The US Department of Agriculture has awarded contracts to buy 12 million pounds of California walnut kernels, equal to 28 million pounds in shell and worth nearly $30 million, under its Section 32 authority. The department announced the awards on 25 September, following an intent-to-purchase notice in August.
With this contract, USDA's Section 32 walnut purchases in 2026 total $45 million, nearly 17 million pounds of kernels that go to food banks, the California Walnut Commission (CWC) said.
The purchase comes as growers harvest this year's crop while still shipping last year's, the second largest on record. "Lowering the carry-in inventory from 2025 is a critical step to putting our family farms and local rural communities on firmer footing," said Robert Verloop, the commission's chief executive, who thanked Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and officials of the department's marketing programmes.
Verloop said the industry has been facing excess inventories and difficult global markets, and that the purchase should help set up a more balanced market as growers and handlers begin the new selling season.
The CWC represents more than 3,700 growers and about 70 handlers. California grows more than 99% of US walnuts, which are sold to 80 countries.
The story is based on a California Walnut Commission statement carried by Morning Ag Clips.
Photo: Andrei Suslov / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Morning Ag Clips
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