Prior Almond Board coverage of rootstock selection has emphasized the same point. Growers should identify a site’s limitations first, then select a rootstock that helps address the biggest risks. That means soil tests, water quality information, local grower experience and advisor input should all be part of the planning process. Once trees are planted, growers can adjust irrigation and fertility programs, but they cannot easily redo rootstock selection, variety choice or pre-plant soil preparation. Bring the Right People into the Conversation Early Roots framed the panel around a gap that often appears in orchard planning. Growers may talk to a nursery early, but the handler is sometimes brought in after planting decisions are already made, if ever. The panelists encouraged growers to widen the conversation before committing to trees. That group should include the nursery, handler, pest control adviser, neighboring growers and other trusted advisors who understand the region. Arellano said a nursery representative should be prepared to answer questions across rootstock, variety, fit for the site and how the planting will work operationally. If he does not have an answer, the next step is finding someone who does. Ribiero said he often asks similar questions of different people one-on-one, looking for patterns in the answers. Where the advice is consistent, growers gain confidence. Where there are outliers, the next question should be asked. Marketability Should Not Be an Afterthought Phippen brought the handler perspective into sharp focus. A variety may look attractive on paper, and a nursery may be able to supply the trees, but the buying public ultimately determines how that almond is valued. Market classification, quality expectations, defects, customer preferences and regional demand all matter.
For Phippen, that means the marketing team should be part of the decision-making process. They can help growers understand what is moving well, what may be oversupplied and what buyers want. A grower may be able to produce a variety, but the better question is whether the market wants it, and at what price. That conversation is important because handlers may serve different customers and markets. Quality tolerance, product form, timing and buyer preference can vary. A variety that fits one handler’s program may not be the right fit for another. Do Not Overcomplicate the Orchard One of Ribiero’s lessons from experience was the value of simplicity. He described a planting with multiple varieties intended to hedge risk around bloom, pollination and market movement. In practice, that complexity created harvest inefficiency without delivering a better return. His takeaway for growers was direct. Do not overthink it. A planting plan that is efficient, repeatable and well- matched to the site may provide more long-term value than one built around too many assumptions. Simplicity can reduce operational headaches and make it easier to scale what works. Pre-Plant Work Is the Last Chance to Get Some Things Right The panel also emphasized the importance of pre- plant groundwork and amendments. Ribiero noted that once an orchard is planted, it is difficult to incorporate materials into the active root zone. If a site needs amendments such as lime, gypsum, sulfur or compost, pre-plant is often the best opportunity to get them where they need to be. That point ties directly back to economics. A grower may be tempted to trim development costs up front, but those savings can become expensive if poor preparation limits tree performance for the life of the orchard.
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SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2026
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