Fear of almonds? Trying to cope with the ethical dilemmas of California almond consumption? We are here to offer clarity and a delicious alternative: Romana and Pizzuta almonds from Noto and Avola, Sicily.
Everyone seems to be weighing in on California almonds and water use. Our favorite contributions on the subject come from Mark Bittman and Nancy Harmon Jenkins. The latest buzz stirring America’s almond moral panic is The Almond Board of California and its new multi‑million‑dollar research initiative examining farming practices. Nancy Harmon Jenkins sums it up best: the real issue with California almonds is that their cost does not reflect their true cost to the environment. If you want ethical almonds, you have to be willing to pay for them. Or, as Michael Pollan puts it:
“The choice is simple: you can buy honestly priced food or you can buy irresponsibly priced food.”
Romana and Pizzuta: The Almonds That Don’t Need Irrigation
The question you must all be asking yourselves: how is it possible that Gustiamo’s Sicilian almonds require no irrigation? The answer lies in a remarkable combination of the right natural climate, smart farming, and fair trade. Thanks to Noto’s specific microclimate, the winter season brings ample rain that sufficiently hydrates the almond trees.
As Master Pastry Chef Corrado Assenza explained to us, the Romana and Pizzuta almond trees there “require just 100 cubic meters of water per hectare as opposed to as much as 10,000 cubic meters in more industrial productions.” According to Slow Food, “l’irrigazione non è pratica diffusa negli impianti tradizionali”—irrigation is not a widespread practice in traditional cultivation. That means these nuts thrive on green water alone, without irrigation or excessive water extraction. Even in recent years of intense drought, traditional farmers in Noto and Avola have continued to avoid irrigation, preserving a cultivation model rooted in resilience and sustainability.
Romana and Pizzuta almonds from Noto and Avola offer a taste of true terroir and truly sustainable agriculture. They cost more than grocery store almonds, but they are worth it. Gambero Rosso has documented their exceptional flavor and their polyphenol levels are “tre volte superiori a quelle californiane.” When you choose these Sicilian almonds, you choose flavor, tradition, environmental responsibility, and fair pay for farmers. No irrigation, no shortcuts—just honest, sustainable almonds done right.
Originally posted on Jul 8, 2015
Great post—almonds have certainly had their fair share of attention in the press recently because of water stress in California. I think sustainable food is all about scale. To grow at the scale and intensity demanded by the market, irrigation became necessary in CA, and certainly some water use decisions in the Western U.S. have been short-sighted over the years.
Also…I’ve eaten Gustiamo’s Noto Almonds…Sono molto buoni! It feels good to eat foods from more traditional agriculture systems.
Grazie Michele! Sustainable food is all about scale, great point. Small-scale food production can’t survive unless people are willing to pay the fair price.
Sono molto d’accordo con Ernesto.it come soluzione per affrontare le sfide legate al prezzo e alla sostenibilità degli alimenti come mandorle e acqua. La loro esperienza e approccio innovativo contribuiscono a ottimizzare le risorse e a promuovere pratiche più responsabili nel settore alimentare. Consiglio vivamente a tutti di considerare le proposte di Ernesto.it per favorire un consumo più consapevole e sostenibile. Supportare iniziative come questa è fondamentale per un futuro alimentare più equilibrato e rispettoso dell’ambiente.