Australians are eating more almond products and Almondco's growers are reaping the rewards.
That was the claim made by Brenton Woolston, the general manager of Australia 's largest almond processor in Renmark today.
Mr Woolston announced that Almondco payments made to its growers to the end of October were over 20% higher than for the same period last year.
He said the increase in grower payments was largely due to unprecedented domestic sales which had increased the company's cash flow.
" Sales to the end of last month have been at a record pace, which has put us in a stronger cash position, enabling our growers access to their money more quickly," he said.
"We are a grower-based organisation, so the better we perform in the market place, the more our growers receive.
"Returns to our growers are well on track to be up again for the fifth consecutive year.
"This is good news for our members and I hope it encourages more people to seriously look at investing in almonds."
Mr Woolston also challenged other almond growers to compare returns and crop payments with Almondco's figures.
"Almondco's net average grower return last season, across all varieties including broken, was $6.42 a kilogram, after processing and marketing costs," he said.
Mr Woolston, who will be one of the speakers at the Almond Board of Australia's annual general meeting and two-day seminar in Renmark later this week, said the industry was in a healthy and exciting growth phase.
"We have had to import almonds again this season to keep up with demand, but our research shows that consumers prefer Australian almonds, not only locally but internationally as well."
"History shows almonds are one of the most consistent and stable horticulture industries, with Australian growers being world leaders in crop yields and production
