Fritz

Price

Butte

Padre

Mission

Monterey

NonpareilBlooms and harvested early.

CarmelHarvested 25-30 days afterNonpareil.

Mission typeHarvested 25-30 days afterNonpareil; similar to Butte.

California typeHarvested 40-60 days afterNonpareil; high percentageof doubles.

California typeHarvested 7-10 days afterNonpareil; alternative toNonpareil.

California typeHarvested 40-60 days afterNonpareil.

California typeHarvested 7-10 days afterNonpareil.

California typeHarvested 7-10 days afterNonpareil; high percentageof doubles.

Soft shell; brown color;high suture opening.

Soft shell; good shellintegrity; fair sutureopening.

Hard shell; good shellintegrity; no sutureopening.

Hard shell; brown color;smooth surface; lowsuture opening.

Paper shell; dark browncolor; rough surface; highsuture opening.

Soft shell; light color; goodshell integrity; low sutureopening.

Hard shell; light color;good shell integrity;smooth surface; no sutureopening.

Paper shell; dark browncolor; rough surface; highsuture opening.

Medium, flat shape; lightcolor; smooth surface.

Medium, narrow shape;slightly wrinkled surface.

Small, short wideshape; dark brown;wrinkled surface.

Large, long narrowshape; deep wrinkledsurface.

Large, long narrowshape; light color;smooth surface.

Small, medium plumpshape; dark brown;fairly wrinkled surface.

Medium, wide shape;fairly wrinkled surface.

Small, short narrowshape; fairly wrinkledsurface.

Peerless

Nonpareil

Carmel

Sonora

Mission typeHarvested 25-30 days afterNonpareil; versatile kernelapplications.

Mission typeHarvested 40-60 days afterNonpareil; strong flavor;not blanchable.

Semi-hard shell; light color;smooth surface; low sutureopening.

Hard shell; good shellintegrity; no sutureopening.

Small, short wide shape;dark brown; deepwrinkled surface.

Small, short plumpshape; wrinkled surface.

(NP)

(BT)

(CR)

(PD)

(MI)

(MT)

(SN)

(FR)

(PL)

(PR)

Major California Almond Varietieswww.almondboard.com • www.almondsarein.com

California TypeThis classification includes a number of varieties which are blanchable andused primarily in manufactured products. California type varieties have awide range of shell hardness, kernel shapes, skin color and surfacecharacteristics. As a result, they are quite adaptable and well suited fornearly any process or application.

V A R I E T I E SCALIFORNIA ALMOND

NonpareilWith the widest range of uses among the marketing categories,Nonpareil are readily blanched (skin removal) and cut forprocessed forms. A thin outer shell and smooth kernel allowfor easy, blemish-free processing. As a result, Nonpareil areused anywhere an attractive appearance or a strong almondidentification is important.

CarmelActually a member of the California type varieties, the Carmelhas become popular enough to warrant its own classification.A soft-shell variety, Carmel almonds are often used forblanching and roasting. Because they are easily processed,Carmel are often substituted for Nonpareil.

Mission TypeMission type varieties have hard shells, and their kernels aresmall, wide and often plump. The kernel skin is generally darkerthan Nonpareil and wrinkled, which enhances salt and flavoradherence. Blanching is not as common for this type, but somevarieties are blanchable.

There are more than thirty major almond varieties produced in California

orchards. Each has unique characteristics in terms of shell hardness, kernel

shape, color and surface, and provides subtle nuances in the resulting

flavor profile. Understanding the differences makes it possible to select

the appropriate variety for specific application needs. California almonds

are marketed either as shelled kernels or inshell. Almonds are further

categorized into four broad classifications: Nonpareil, Carmel, Mission Type

and California Type.

Almond Purchasing Considerations

Shape; surface wrinkleness; blanchability.

Count range of whole almond kernelsper ounce (28.35 grams).

Dissimilar, doubles, chipped and scratchedkernels, foreign material, particle and dust,split and broken kernels, other defects andserious damage.

Nonpareil, Carmel, Butte, Padre, Mission, Monterey, Sonora, Fritz,Peerless, Price.

18/20, 20/22, 23/25, 25/27, 27/30, 30/32,32/34, 34/36, 36/40 or customer specified range.

Fancy, Extra No. 1, No. 1 Supreme, Select Sheller Run, StandardShell Run, No. 1 Whole and Broken, No. 1 Pieces.

Variety

Size

Grades

Inshell Shell hardness, shell integrity, sutureopening, kernel quality, crack out.

Market specific, depending on how inshell will be ultimatelysold to consumers, e.g.:Traditional: sold in the shell—semi-or hard shell acceptable,cracked with a mechanical nut crackerSnack: sold in the shell—paper or soft shell with greater sutureopening to allow seasonings to permeate the shellHand Crack: sold as kernels—paper or soft shellpreferred to allow manual cracking.

CaliforniaAlmonds

Pricedifferential

for grades andvarieties

Variousgrades andsizes to suitprocessing

aim

Diverse varietyand size optionsfor application

needs

Cost Grade Specs

Variety Size

Usage

Factor Parameters Common Terminology

Almond Board of California • 1150 Ninth Street, Suite 1500 • Modesto, CA 95354, USA • 1 (209) 549-8262 telephone • 1 (209) 549-8267 fax