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California Almond Harvest to Cold Storage: A Month-by-Month Timeline for Growers

Full almond timeline from January dormancy through March market timing. Harvest, drying, cold storage intake, and pricing strategy by variety.

California Almond Harvest to Cold Storage: A Month-by-Month Timeline for Growers

Definition: The almond harvest-to-storage timeline is the complete production sequence from dormancy through cold storage intake and market release. California produces approximately 3 billion pounds of almonds annually, according to the Almond Board of California, representing roughly 80% of the global supply.

Timing is everything in almond production. A grower who waits for optimal hull split harvests a higher-quality kernel. A grower who gets product into cold storage within the right window preserves that quality for months of market timing.

January – February: Dormancy and Pre-Season Preparation

Almond trees are dormant. This is planning season.

  • Finalize cold storage contracts for the coming harvest. Lock in rates before peak-season pricing.
  • Determine volume estimates based on projected yield.
  • Service harvest equipment. Confirm cold storage facility maintenance is complete.

March – April: Bloom and Pollination

According to the Almond Board of California, almond bloom begins in late February and peaks in March.

  • Bloom success determines how much cold storage capacity you will need in Q3-Q4.
  • Strong bloom = book additional capacity now while rates are favorable.

May – July: Crop Development and Hull Split

Hull split timing varies by variety: Nonpareil (mid-July), Carmel (early-mid August), Butte and Padre (late July to mid-August).

  • Target hull split at 75-80% before starting to shake.
  • Harvesting before optimal hull split reduces kernel quality. Waiting too long increases insect pressure.

August – September: Harvest

According to the Almond Board of California, mechanical tree shakers harvest the crop by shaking almonds to the ground.

  1. Shaking: Nonpareil first (early August), then pollinizer varieties through September.
  2. Drying: Almonds dry on the orchard floor for 7-10 days.
  3. Sweeping: Sweeper machines push dried almonds into windrows.
  4. Pickup: Harvester machines vacuum windrows into carts for transport.
Variety Hull Split Harvest Window Notes
Nonpareil Mid-July Early-mid August Largest kernel, premium pricing.
Carmel Early August Mid-late August Common pollinizer for Nonpareil.
Butte Late July Mid August Smaller kernel, strong flavor.
Padre Late July Mid-late August Late-harvest variety.

September – October: Hulling, Drying, and Quality Assessment

Target moisture for cold storage intake is 5-6% according to UC Davis guidelines. Higher moisture risks mold and aflatoxin.

  • Hulling: Removes the outer hull. Hulls sold as livestock feed.
  • Quality grading: USDA-grade almonds by size, defect rate, and moisture.
  • Critical decision: Once almonds reach 5-6% moisture, enter cold storage within 48-72 hours.

October – November: Cold Storage Intake

Peak intake season.

  • Temperature: 32-36 F for short-term. 0 F for long-term holds.
  • Humidity: 65-70% RH.
  • Lot tracking: FSMA 204 requires lot-level traceability. Review requirements.
  • Staging: Avoid temperature shock. Move gradually: ambient to 36 F to 0 F over 24-48 hours.

See our complete almond cold storage guide for detailed intake protocols.

December: Holiday Market Window

First major market timing opportunity. Holiday demand creates a pricing window for baking almonds and gift nuts.

January – March: Market Timing and Inventory Release

  • Monitor Almond Board of California position reports for supply/demand data.
  • Sell in tranches rather than dumping entire inventory.
  • Quality check stored lots before shipping: verify moisture, flavor, appearance.

Learn how growers use cold storage to capture better almond prices.

Storage Duration and Quality

  • 32-36 F, 65-70% RH: 4-8 months with good quality
  • 0 F frozen: 12-24 months, minimal quality loss
  • Ambient (70 F+): Quality declines within 2-3 months

Long-term storage strategy guide.

FAQ: Almond Harvest Timeline

Q: When should I book cold storage?
A: January-March, before harvest pricing kicks in.
Q: What moisture for cold storage?
A: 5-6% per UC Davis. Above 6% risks mold.
Q: Can I store without fumigation?
A: Yes. 0 F eliminates insects without chemicals. Essential for organic. Fumigation-free guide.
Q: Best time to sell stored almonds?
A: December holidays, March-April baking, June-July pre-harvest tightening.
Q: How fast from huller to cold storage?
A: Within 48-72 hours of target moisture.

Planning almond storage? Central Valley Cold Storage in Madera offers multi-zone temperature control, FSMA 204 traceability, and fumigation-free organic storage. Book harvest capacity now. Contact us for a quote.

How to Get Started

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Benefits of Our Cold Storage

Maintain Quality & Extend Market Window

Advanced temperature and humidity controls preserve product quality and extend storage life up to two years.

Reduce Spoilage
and Risk
Our environment helps limit spoilage, infestation, and food safety risks.
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Operating with SQF and CCOF certifications and FDA compliance, we uphold industry food safety standards.
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Our Services

Long and short term refrigerated cold storage tailored to the most optimal conditions for fresh and organic produce.

General Storage

Retain quality and integrity for up to 2 years
34 degrees / 50% humidity

Rehab Storage

Add moisture to produce previously in dry storage
34 degrees / 55% humidity

A wide view of a large, organized industrial warehouse with high racking and many pallets of stored goods.

finishing storage

Ideal conditions for finished products
36 degrees / 50% humidity

Organic storage

Ideal conditions for organic products
28 degrees / 50% humidity

Our State-of-the-Art Facility

  • 254,000 sq. ft., with a 50 million pound capacity
  • Multiple independently controlled temperature and humidity zones
  • Rigorous quality and inspection controls
  • 24/7 monitoring and advanced alarm systems for temperature fluctuations, fire, and intrusion, plus video surveillance
  • Fully compliant with FDA Food Safety Modernization Act requirements
  • Fully certified by SQF, CCOF and registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration.
  • Advanced, low-cost, environmentally friendly off-grid power, including a 1200kW solar array, and large-scale battery storage — the largest cold storage facility in the US to operate without any dependence on the electric grid.
  • Conveniently located in the Madera Airport Industrial Park in the heart of the Central Valley.

What Our Clients Say

"Keeping my nut harvest in cold storage gives me greater control over when I sell because there’s no loss of quality or weight if I wait for more favorable market conditions"
“Temperature control is a game-changer for us.”
“Friendly and personable team.”
“Efficient and timely loading and unloading”

Central Valley’s Premier Refrigerated Cold Storage Facility For Fresh and Organic Produce

Achieve up to 30-40% greater profits by maintaining the integrity of your crop, holding down storage and fumigation costs, and taking advantage of seasonal price premiums.

Protect your harvest and optimize your storage strategy.

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