• Obviously, proper setup and operation of the shelling equipment itself plays a role in the quality of the almonds produced and the level of damage sustained during shelling. It can be said that shelling equipment is much like a musical instrument and that the instrument must be properly played to produce the best music, or in this case, the best product. Every machine has an optimum operating range at which it performs at its highest efficiency. Shelling equipment is no different. However, given optimum product, your sheller operator will be able to produce the highest quality almonds at the highest efficiencies. Blue Diamond also works with sheller operations throughout the Central Valley to help them optimize their equipment and reduce chipped and broken levels in our growers’ deliveries. Sheller managers can contact their Blue Diamond Regional Manager for more information. A Note on Producing Inshell We’ve already noted a few special points for growers producing almonds for inshell sales. This pertains particularly to Nonpareil, Sonora, and Independence inshell. Two factors rise to the forefront when considering producing these varieties as inshell: 1. Nonpareil, Sonora, and Independence have thinner, more open shells, making them more susceptible to damage from Navel Orangeworm and ants. As previously mentioned, it’s nearly impossible to remove reject nuts during the hulling process. However, rejects can be reduced during shelling. The maximum reject level that qualifies as “High Quality Inshell” is 3.0%. The maximum level that qualifies for “High Quality Meats” is 2.0%. Pre-harvest sampling of almonds that have a reject level as high as 4.0% will not return the maximum premiums if delivered as inshell. However, if the same crop is shelled and delivered as meats, the reject level may be reduced to 2.0% or less, qualifying for “High Quality Meats” and earning a greater value to the grower.
2. Foreign material levels from excess hull or hull fragments are a major problem in inshell deliveries. For the best success, almonds grown for inshell must hang in the tree longer than those grown for shelling. This allows the hulls to dry and open fully, providing for better separation and cleaning during hulling. Unfortunately, these factors are at odds with each other. Delaying harvest to provide for better hulling when producing inshell means that the crop will be exposed to egg laying by Navel Orangeworm for a longer period, potentially increasing damage levels. These damaged kernels cannot be easily removed from inshell almonds. Clearly, growers producing inshell must also have an iron- clad pest management program to protect against insect damage. This is one example of the often repeated saying that “good inshell is grown, not hulled.” While the factors listed above can and do play a significant role in the final value of your crop, there are at least two other factors that can influence a grower’s final return. Moisture Among the typical recommendations to mitigate NOW damage is the practice of “early harvest.” Given that NOW moths lay their eggs on nuts while in the trees and not on the ground, the intent of early harvest is to get the crop out of the trees before the next ‘flight” of moths in the NOW life cycle emerges and lays their eggs on the splitting hulls. While early harvest can be a valid method of reducing NOW damage, care must be taken to ensure that the crop is not harvested TOO early. Under the heading of “no good deed goes unpunished,” early harvest can lead to several serious consequences. Growers who shake their trees too early—before the kernels are physiologically mature—can find their chipped and broken levels increased by “peelers.” Peelers are caused when the peel is not fully attached to the underlying kernel and flakes off as the nuts flow through the hulling and shelling process. Peelers add to the amount of chipped and broken kernels on your delivery’s Grower Statement.
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MAY–JUNE 2022
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