Sustainability for the California walnut industry must be economically viable for walnut growers to follow environmentally responsible practices and be socially acceptable by improving quality of life for growers, neighbors, consumers and the public.
The goal is to maintain the industry’s reputation for selling high quality, safe, and nutritious walnuts. The California walnut industry’s sustainability project focuses on integrated pest management, energy efficiency, water quality, air quality, nutrient efficiency, and food safety. The walnut industry can demonstrate substantial improvement in these areas. There has been a reduction in pesticide use, improvements in energy efficiency in walnut drying, and improvement of surface water quality. This includes improving nutrient and irrigation efficiency to improve water quality.