Agricultural knowledge, place, and production in The Almond Paradox

Abstract

First paragraphs:

Almonds are a controversial crop in the U.S.; many decry the trees’ thirst in water-stressed California, where most global almond production occurs (Gonzales, 2015; Palmer et al., 2024; Pollan, 2007; Reisman, 2019). But this is only part of the story. Emily Reisman examines how different agri­cultural, political, place, and environmental con­texts shape our understanding of what almond trees “need,” comparing intensive almond produc­tion in California with Spain’s traditional rainfed systems in her 2025 book, The Almond Paradox: Cracking Open the Politics of What Plants Need.

Dramatic increases in almond production have also led to steady, higher demand for the product, fueled by marketing investments from the grower association. Almonds are no longer a seasonal holiday food and instead are eaten year-round with many uses. These market demands have shaped almonds as a major agricultural crop in California’s Central Valley, creating new challenges for food and environmental systems. . . .