Nuts in the news. It seems there is a growing problem with nutjackings. Or nutnapping. Or something like that.
FRESNO, Calif. – At first, Larry Ladd just let it go. But after the farmer caught six thieves plundering his walnut orchard in less than a day, he knew he had a problem.
He's not the only one. As prices for almonds and walnuts rise with demand, a growing black market has emboldened nutnappers to cut holes in fences, sneak into distribution centers and drive off with truckloads of nuts.
"At first, I'd just ask the deputy to impress upon them that this is the wrong thing to do," said Ladd. "But then it got ridiculous."
California farmers like Ladd have reason to be vigilant: Growers here produce about 80 percent of the world's almonds and 99 percent of the nation's walnuts.
The state's walnuts earned nearly $4.4 million in 2004, according to the latest figures available from the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Savvy scoundrels target both walnuts and the more valuable almond.
Last month, a Fresno County task force that tackles rural crimes recovered 44,000 pounds of processed almonds taken from a distribution center.
That is a lot of nuts. It is California, though!
Ah, yes. California, the land of fruits and nuts.
Unless you’ve seen California’s fields, you can’t appreciate how extensive they are. For example, along Highway 46, near the junction with the Golden State Freeway, there’s a single Almond orchard that stretches for a full 5 miles down the road, and runs as deep as the eye can see.
It’s an impressive sight, and there are a great many other similar ones along both the Golden State (5) Fwy, and along Hwy 99 which runs along the east side of the great San Joaquin Valley. The quantity, quality, and variety of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fibers grown is with parallel, and is one of America’s greatest assets.