Americans eat 10 times more almonds than they did in 1965, and their consumption is still growing. But, is the holy grail of healthy snacks hurting more than it is benefiting people?; Credit: Photo by Harsha K R via Flickr Creative Commons
On paper, almonds seem to be the ultimate health food. They help aid weight loss, lower the chances of heart disease and even help prevent diabetes. Americans eat 10 times more almonds than they did in 1965, and their consumption is still growing. But, is the holy grail of healthy snacks hurting more than it is benefiting people?
It takes nearly 1.1 gallons of water to grow each almond. Despite being in an extreme drought, California is the only state in the country that grows almonds. In fact, 82 percent of all commercial almonds are grown in the sunny state. 1.4 million honey bees are also required for California’s almond industry, as farmers rely solely on the bees to pollinate trees. A large number of bees die each year due to the exposure to pesticides.
Should California continue farming such a large percentage of almonds in the state? Are the effects of almond farming more detrimental to the environment than the health benefits they provide for people?
Guests:
Patrick Cavanaugh, owner of the California Ag Today radio network and editor of numerous agricultural publications
Claire O’Connor, Agricultural Water Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)