Amid Intense Trade War with China, California Walnut Taps Other Global Markets

CALIFORNIA, July 1, 2025 — The tariff threats have been unable to deter the California walnut industry compared to its sister nut crops, almond and pistachios.

All three major California nut crops are export dependent for making a profit.

Betting big on exports alone makes this yield vulnerable to trade wars. As per market estimates, the California walnut industry exports two-thirds of their walnut crop.

Amid an intense 125 percent trade war with China, the walnut industry is less affected as its focus area of export excludes China.

In 2012, China was a top export market for California walnuts.

From being a consumer nation of California walnuts, China has of late taken the shape of a competitor to US.

China has become a net exporter of walnuts, today producing more than double the tonnage of what US grows. China produces 56 per cent of world tonnage compared to 23 per cent for the US.

Platform to Enhance Trade

As trade war with China has put brakes on export of California walnut to it, Tuesday saw an announcement that will bring together stakeholders of the walnut industry. 

According to a press release, California Walnut Conference, the annual gathering for walnut growers and handlers, is returning with a new date and location for 2026. The event will take place February 19, 2026, at the Turlock Fairgrounds, marking a new chapter in its continued evolution and growth, said the press release.

The annual California Walnut Conference is presented by West Coast Nut magazine in partnership with the California Walnut Commission (CWC).

Together, these organizations have built a forum for information, networking, and solutions for walnut growers and handlers and industry suppliers, the press release added.

“We know this event has become important to the walnut industry and allied community and hope this more centralized location and new date will help make the conference accessible to additional growers and handlers,” said Jason Scott, Publisher and CEO of West Coast Nut and JCS Marketing Inc.

This year’s conference will include a full day of seminars covering topics important to walnut growers and handlers, including research, production practices, trade developments, advocacy, and market dynamics. Continuing education will be offered eligible sessions. “The California Walnut Conference is a cornerstone of our efforts to bring the industry together,” said Robert Verloop, Executive Director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission. “We changed the location to Turlock in order to make the conference more accessible for all growers. It provides the opportunity for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and dialogue that is essential to moving our industry forward into the future. With the challenges and opportunities ahead, this conference helps ensure we are aligned and working toward a strong and sustainable future for California walnuts.”

Based on overwhelming interest from last year, the Poster Board Research Sessions will be expanded in 2026. These sessions feature key findings from walnut industry-funded research in areas such as pest management, irrigation, fertility, varieties and rootstocks, and overall crop production. Researchers will be on hand to engage directly with attendees, answer questions, and provide insights into practical applications for growers, the press release further said.

“The Walnut Industry Resource Center, first introduced in 2025, will return with even more nonprofit and government partners offering cost-share programs, educational materials, and grower-focused resources aimed at improving profitability and sustainability on the farm,” added the press release.

Export Destinations

Among the leading export destinations for America’s walnuts is the EU including Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands as well as Turkey, Korea, Japan and Canada.

These nations all less impacted by the trade war so far. Besides, the demand from these countries is propelled by the presence of evolving middle-class customers, who are fond of walnuts. Canada is an example of the reduced threat from tariffs in that exports of walnuts are still protected by an existing trade agreement.

Bumper walnut crop in China during 2014 had hit prices of California walnut, bringing them down.

As per the Walnut Commission, 17,987 total acres were removed in the 2024 season. The average age of removed orchards was 26 years old but an equal or even higher number of trees statewide was abandoned bringing the total fewer acres to 36,000 as of September 2024.

As of 2021, California had 445,000 acres of walnut trees both producing and non-bearing and today it stands about 364,000 acres or a loss of about 80,000 acres of trees that turned into firewood.

After facing the wrath of weather vagaries, California walnuts also saw recovery from the drought with two good snowpack years and better rainfall. The favorable weather has replenished the groundwater and has provided deep soil benefits for the walnut crop.

As per Walnut Commission, 17,987 total acres were removed in the 2024 season. The average age of removed orchards was 26 years old but an equal or even higher number of trees statewide were abandoned bringing the total fewer acres to 36,000 as of September 2024.

Inputs from Saqib Malik

Editing by David Ryder