Almond Industry Generates $21.3 Billion in California
A 2026 study commissioned by the Almond Board of California measures the crop's statewide economic footprint.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Organic Food
The Almond Board of California commissioned a 2026 study finding the state's almond industry generates $21.3 billion in economic activity. The industry supports 99,826 jobs across California.
Why it matters
The figures show the almond sector's weight in California's economy, including wages, tax revenue and exports that reach beyond the state. The study was commissioned by the industry's own board, which is relevant context for how the findings are framed.
The figures come from a 2026 industry-commissioned economic impact study, which reports $8 billion in wages and benefits and roughly $3 billion in state and federal tax revenue. The extraction does not include the study's methodology or any year-over-year comparison.
The players
Almond Board of California
The industry board that commissioned the 2026 economic impact study on the state's almond sector.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
The federal agency that estimated the 2025 almond crop's farmgate value at approximately $6.87 billion.
The details
The industry includes more than 7,600 growers, and over 90% of them operate family farms. Almond exports generated $6.62 billion during the 2025/26 crop year, while the 2025 crop's farmgate value was estimated at about $6.87 billion by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Timeline
2025 crop year: almond crop farmgate value estimated at $6.87 billion.
2025/26 crop year: almond exports generated $6.62 billion.
2026: economic impact study released showing $21.3 billion in activity.
Industry Landscape
The study's $6.87 billion farmgate figure draws on the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service's crop valuation reporting, which is the baseline federal estimate for almond production value. The $30 billion national impact figure extends that base through the industry's own multiplier estimates.
For Californians, the industry's $3 billion in state and federal tax revenue and 99,826 supported jobs shape the regional economy in the Central Valley and beyond. The study does not indicate how these figures will affect grocery or almond product prices.
The takeaway
The study frames almonds as a major economic engine for California, supporting jobs, wages and exports well beyond the orchard. Readers weighing the figures should note they come from an industry-commissioned report.
Further reading
Explore more Organic Food coverage to see how California's farm economy shapes what ends up on store shelves.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Freshplaza.
