ZERO WASTE
The farmers in California operate on a zero waste policy, meaning the hulls and shells get upcycled into bedding and feed for the dairy industry. There’s also research going into how these useful leftovers can be turned into kombucha, beer and even yarn for clothing.
ALMONDS NEED BEES
Almond trees need bees to pollinate their fruits. As much as it would be wonderful if the bees flew to the trees of their own accord, the almond industry is exactly what it says on the proverbial almond butter jar – an ‘industry’. Bees are transported to the orchards to pollinate the trees via trucks. Almonds are the first fruit that they pollinate in the year and they contain all 10 essential amino acids that they need…
MONOCULTURES
However, it’s not ideal that this is the only food they’re getting. As much as I think I’d love to only eat almonds, I have a sneaky suspicion that I might get a little bored of them after a while. This process is also fairly stressful for the bees, so is potentially contributing to a loss of colonies.
However, bee transportation is governmental policy in the USA. And these bees aren’t just pollinating almonds… they’re required for apples, cranberries, melons, broccoli, blueberries, raspberries, cherries… the list is endless. So if you want to cut out almonds from your diet to support bees, you’d have to cut out rather a large chunk of your daily intake of plant goodness.
GO ORGANIC?
We visited some smaller, organic farms that look after the bees really well, and grow things other than almond trees to help them out. They also use less pesticides, which is better for the bees, the trees and of course, us human beings. It’s a shame that it’s a privilege to be able to afford the higher price tag of these almonds, but that’s a whole other article…
VEN’S VERDICT
My trip reassured me about the measures being taken to reduce water consumption in the almond industry. In terms of bee health, if you were to give up almonds, you’d need to do the same for berries and all the other delicious plants listed above. In my opinion, cutting out isn’t the answer, and you can rest assured that California almond farmers are doing everything they can to ensure the industry is more sustainable.
As a vegan, it can be frustrating to feel as though you have to make cuts to your diet that are technically ‘plant based’. But like everything in life, we should be conscious of what we’re consuming and not over-indulging in anything.
However, I have made a few small changes. Apart from chocolate, almond butter is just about my favourite thing in the world, but I’m substituting peanut butter more than I was before, to aim for a little more balance.
I’m also prioritising oat and hemp milk over almond milk. These seeds and grains can be grown locally, don’t require bees for pollination and are less water intensive, so ultimately more sustainable. A little change, but an achievable one, and one that makes me feel better about dipping the aforementioned dark chocolate in my favourite almond butter.
Want to substitute almond milk, but are unsure of which milk has the lowest environmental impact? See our guide.
If you want to make your own low-waste plant-based milk, see Max La Manna’s easy recipe.
As Venetia mentioned a lot of the food we eat depends on bees (one third to be exact!), so if you want to help save bees, see our simple tips here, find the best wildflowers and plants to seed for them here and learn more about these amazing creatures here.