[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ALMOND DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. DUARTE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2023

  Mr. DUARTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today joined by my colleagues, Rep. 
David Valadao, Rep. Jim Costa, Rep. Tom McClintock, and Rep. John 
Garamendi, to recognize February 16, 2023, as National Almond Day. We 
celebrate the hard-working men and women involved in this great 
industry, past, and present, for their hard work in providing our 
Nation and the world with food, fiber, and energy. It is a day to thank 
those who work by acres, not hours.
  National Almond Day is a time to recognize the many benefits almonds 
provide in a healthy diet and to pay tribute to the hardworking 
farmers, processors, and other industry members who make the almond 
industry one of the most successful and innovative in the United 
States.
  Americans and people around the world can observe this day by 
snacking on one of the world's most nutritious foods, almonds. Almonds 
provide many health benefits and are a great source of protein, healthy 
fats, and fiber. They are gluten-free and contain essential vitamins 
and minerals such as Vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium. As a 
convenient, versatile, and healthy food option, almonds can be enjoyed 
in various ways, such as snacking, baking, and cooking. Among their 
many benefits, almonds help maintain a healthy heart, healthy 
cholesterol levels, and healthy blood sugar levels. They also provide 
key nutrients that promote skin health and protect against ultraviolet 
radiation.
  Our home state of California is home to 7,600 almond farms, and 
nearly 90 percent of those farms are family farms, and many are owned 
and operated by third and fourth generation farmers. Nearly 70 percent 
of California almond farms are 100 acres or less. There are 98 almond 
handlers in California, many of which are family-owned businesses.
  In California alone, the almond industry employs 110,000 people and 
contributes $9.2 billion annually to the economy. The state is 
responsible for 100 percent of the U.S. almond supply and 80 percent of 
the world's almond supply. This great industry has improved the 
efficiency of water use, reaching 75 percent of the almond community's 
goal to attain a 20 percent improvement by 2025. Growers and processors 
are finding new food product opportunities for uses of the almond hull, 
with a goal to achieve zero waste in the orchards.
  The almond industry has long played a crucial role in all Americans' 
economic and nutritional well-being. Our constituents are innovative 
agriculturists who are constantly looking for ways to further the 
growth and success of the industry. Moreover, the United States almond 
industry is instrumental to the preservation of farmland and forms the 
backbone of many rural communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating National Almond Day and the 
contributions of almond farmers, processors, and other industry 
members, who make the almond industry one of the most successful and 
innovative in the United States.

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