Commentary: Almond trend is sucking up valuable resource — water

While California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in history, the agricultural industry in the San Joaquin Valley continues to increase production of one of its most profitable crops: almonds.

Almonds are a growing trend around the globe as more and more people recognize the nutritional benefits they provide. Almonds are finding their way into our favorite cereal brands. Almond milk is a popular alternative to dairy milk. And almond butter is catching on as a delicious spread for our bagels.

According to 2012 California Agriculture Statistics, the California almond market reached $4.8 billion — triple what it was in 2003.

On the surface, planting more almond orchards may appear inconsequential, especially when farmers are uprooting other crops to make room for them. Farmers are simply replacing crop for crop, right? The truth is, almond trees are thirsty. Very thirsty.

The amount of water it takes to grow an almond is three times that needed to grow grapes, for example. What’s more, almond orchards are considered more permanent compared with row crops, such as vegetables. Once almond orchards are planted, the water has to keep coming over the long haul or the revenue is lost.

That $4.8 billion almond industry in California amounted to 940,000 acres in 2014, up from 610,000 acres in 2003, a whopping 64% increase. The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates the amount of water required to irrigate these orchards is 1.1 trillion gallons each year. And yes, farmers are continuing to plant young almond saplings by the thousands with hopes that by the time they become bearing trees, the drought will be over.

It may seem like it is a high-risk gamble. And it is, if you are considering the water supply. As surface water and groundwater tables decrease at a frightening rate, it doesn’t make sense that farms continue to produce a crop that uses an extreme amount of water. Unless of course, you consider the fact that almonds are a high-cash-value crop.

The companies that plant almonds are not only lured by the big money to be gained here in the U.S., but according to the Almond Board of California, almost 70% of almond production is being exported internationally, with China considered the industry’s biggest consumer.

With California in its fourth year of drought, Gov. Jerry Brown signed an executive order placing water restrictions on residents and businesses, requiring a 25% overall statewide reduction in water usage. This restriction does not apply to the agriculture industry, which currently is provided an estimated 80% of California’s water allocation.

In fact, even with the passage last year of Proposition 1, water bond measure, any semblance of reporting of groundwater quality, usage and preventive measures on the depletion of water supply is not required until 2020.

Until then, apparently it is perfectly acceptable for farms to continue on as they are. How about instead of feeding the rest of the world an unessential indulgence, we put the brakes on increasing almond production and determine how we can use that allocated water for something essential, like drinking water.

MIA GRAJEDA is attending graduate school in social work at USC’s Irvine campus.