World Almond Day – take a glimpse inside a local farm
Specialised harvesting equipment is used – first to shake the tree and then to sweep the almonds into rows.
HEALTH nuts around the globe will be celebrating World Almond Day today, February 16. While many people enjoy almonds, not everyone knows about the farming process behind the scenes. These high-protein nuts are actually part of the stone-fruit family and thrive in Mediterranean climates with hot, dry summers.
Needless to say, there aren’t many almond farms in KwaZulu-Natal’s more humid climate, but luckily for us, the Little Karoo is just a stone-fruit throw away. There, you can find the first established almond farm in South Africa, Amanteco Almonds. And who better to tell us more than The Almond Girl herself, Réni le Roux? Not only is Le Roux the founder of the retailer, The Almond Girl, but she is also the marketing and sales manager for her family farm, Amanteco Almonds.
“My grandfather, an Italian immigrant, bought the farm in the 1970s, and we have always been involved in the farm. I love being part of his legacy and hope to grow it even more and add my own little touch to add value to the family business and the almond itself,” said le Roux.
She explained that almonds grow on trees and are actually part of the stone-fruit family.
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“We harvest from January to March. Almonds require a Mediterranean climate – cold winters and dry, hot summers. We harvest with specialised harvesting equipment with skilled operators. First, the tree is shaken, then a sweeper sweeps the almonds into rows. Then, lastly, a machine picks up the almonds from the ground,” said le Roux.
See how almonds are harvested in this video clip from The Almond Girl
Once harvested, the outer shell of the almond is removed.
“The next step is to de-shell the almonds where we have the de-sheller to take off the shell. Almonds have layers – the husk, the outer shell and the inner shell, and then lastly, the almond itself. The last step is where the almonds go through the optic sorter and are hand-sorted to ensure that only the best quality almonds are packed,” explained le Roux.
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Le Roux added that the almonds are stored between 0–7 degrees Celcius to ensure freshness and quality.
“Bulk supply is packed in boxes lined with plastic to ensure quality, and my retail packets are all plastic,” she added.
Try this
If you are looking for a new way to enjoy almonds, try le Roux’s family recipe – roasted or salted rosemary almonds with a sprinkle of sugar.
“It’s even better paired with a glass of wine,” said le Roux.
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