Around the world, prices vary by country of origin. An almond tree can produce the first almond after three years, and it takes up to 12 years before it generates a profit. It's expensive to buy land in states where droughts are common and almond trees are large and require a lot of water. Almond growers need 1.7 million hives in California alone, nearly 90% of all commercial hives in the country.
The result is that people with peanut allergies are forced to buy brand-name almonds, such as Blue Diamond, that don't contain peanuts. To pollinate their almond trees, almond farmers rent bees from commercial beekeepers, but unfortunately, pollination costs have tripled in the past decade. Jordanian almonds are thought to have originated in ancient Rome, where a Roman baker and pastry chef named Julius Dragatus introduced honey-coated almonds. Since Marcona almonds are a gourmet variety and can only be found in Spain, they are quite expensive.
While Spain, Morocco and Iran produce almonds, California almonds are still the largest part of the world's supply. However, if American consumers buy imported almonds, the price will be much higher because a lot of expensive shipping costs are added to it. There is a link between almonds or, at least, its consumption, better heart health, weight control and an even longer life expectancy. So, even though almonds are less expensive than other nuts, they're still expensive if you're on a budget.
In addition, store almonds often warn that they contain peanuts and do not test for cross-contamination. Since almonds are available, their price isn't that high, although you can find cheaper alternatives if you're on a tight budget. In recent years, almond growers have increasingly used drip and microjet irrigation systems to control moisture levels throughout the season. However, most people prefer this brand, saying that these almonds are crisper and have a better texture and mouthfeel.
