KIND Snacks has set sustainability goals for the almonds it sources from the San Joaquin Valley. They include building soil fertility and trying to keep some of the dirt from blowing into the air at harvest. Water conservation also is in the plan. Almonds — touted as heart healthy — are the largest ingredient for KIND, which makes snack bars, granola and oatmeal. It is based in New York City. KIND has launched a three-year pilot project called the KIND Almond Acres Initiative. It will test the practices on 500 acres in the Central Valley. “We believe it is our responsibility to lead the almond industry towards a kinder way to grow almonds, and we are so proud and excited to be the brand paving the way,” Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Solomon said in a news release Tuesday. The Valley grows about 80% of the world’s almonds and already has made progress on some of the goals cited by KIND. Get unlimited digital access Try 1 month for $1 CLAIM OFFER This company gets its nuts from Olam Foo Ingredients, part of a Singapore-based business dealing in many food and beverage sectors. It owns about 11,000 acres in Stanislaus, Merced, Madera and Kern counties. Biochar, a soil amendment that captures carbon, is among the almond-growing practices announced by KIND Snacks for the San Joaquin Valley on April 18, 2023. Biochar, a soil amendment that captures carbon, is among the almond-growing practices announced by KIND Snacks for the San Joaquin Valley on April 18, 2023. KIND Snacks The pilot project builds on KIND’s effort to support the bees that pollinate almonds and many other crops. It will involve testing of: Cover crops: Almond farmers will sow a blend of five plants between the tree rows. They could capture climate-harming carbon while boosting soil fertility and attracting pollinators. Subsurface irrigation: Delivering water closer to the tree roots could cut consumption by 20%, on top of industry efforts to date. Whole orchard recycling: Trees past their peak were long urned in the open, adding to the Valley’s pollution. They can instead be chipped and tilled into the soil. The pilot will assess the practice on 38 acres. Compost and biochar: Compost is made from decaying vegetation and can improve soil health. Biochar is a plant byproduct especially adept at sequestering carbon underground. Off-ground harvesting: Almost all Valley almonds are shaken to the ground, sending up dust that can be unhealthy to residents. The pilot will look at machines that catch the nuts in the air. Today’s top headlines Sign up for the Afternoon Newsletter and get the day’s biggest stories in your inbox. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The partnership “represents a massive joint effort in regenerative agriculture,” said Zac Ellis, senior director of agronomy at Olam. “Efforts like these leverage our global expertise to build a more sustainable way of farming almonds.” KIND also will provide scholarships for eiht UC Merced students pursuing careers in food production. And curious people everywhere can pay a “virtual visit” to a sustainable orchard at www.kindsnacks.com/almonds. The partnership also includes UC Davis researchers and the California Water Action Collaborative.
