Frequently Asked questions
"Pesticides" is often used to as a blanket word for all the sprays used in agriculture, or landscaping, or even for the shipment of clothing goods etc...I want to be sure I answer this wonderful question as clearly as I can.
In farming we refer to pesticides as a spray or application intended to kill pests, mostly insects.
Herbicide is used to refer to sprays used to kill plants.
Fungicide is used to refer to applications intended to kill fungus.
Bactericide is used to refer to applications intended to kill bacteria.
Insecticide is used to refer to applications intended to kill insects.
Nematicide is used to refer to applications intended to kill nematodes.
You get the idea.
We do not use any "cides", organic approved or otherwise. Our goal is to increase life in the farm.
Hope that helps.
Yes our trees require bee pollination. Many of the new types of Almond trees are self pollinating, eliminating the need for bees and pollinators. Our orchard has older varieties that are planted sequentially to bloom in sets, one variety blooms first, ready to pollinate the early blooms of the second variety, with the third variety blooming to catch the late blooms of the second variety. The new varieties are simpler and less expensive, and more easily profitable, with less risk...but they lack qualities we appreciate in the old varieties we have.
Absolutely not. Propylene Oxide is a chemical that is used to pasteurize almonds. PPO is the fast, easy, and inexpensive way to do it. I think it is a subject for a blog post...however to answer simply....when our almonds are pasteurized they are either flash steam pasteurized or blanched (which is a hot water bath that slips the skin). Unpasteurized is another fun subject.