Media Contact:
Christine Lott
916-932-7070
clott@walnuts.org
FOLSOM, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 – The California Walnut Commission (CWC) praises the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for finalizing its purchase of California walnuts through Section 32 authority. On Sept. 25, USDA announced it has officially awarded contracts for 12 million pounds of California walnut kernels (28 million pounds in-shell equivalent), valued at nearly $30 million, following the department’s intent-to-purchase announcement in August.
“We’re grateful for USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins, AMS Administrator Erin Morris and her team for seeing this purchase through,” said Robert Verloop, CEO of the California Walnut Commission. “They have consistently supported American agriculture and the California walnut industry, especially when we have been faced with excess inventories and challenging global markets. With this contract, it brings the total 2026 Section 32 purchases to $45 Million, representing nearly 17 million pounds of California walnuts kernels distributed through food banks and reaching people who need access to healthy foods.”
The purchase offers timely support as the industry harvests this year’s crop while finishing shipments of last year’s crop — the second largest on record.
“Lowering the carry-in inventory from 2025 is a critical step to putting our family farms and local rural communities on firmer footing,” Verloop said. “This purchase is a positive boost that helps set the stage for a stronger, more balanced market as growers and handlers kick off the new selling season.”
About the California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 3,700 California walnut growers and approximately 70 handlers whose walnuts are sold to 80 countries around the world, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. California walnuts, grown primarily in multi-generational family orchards, are known for their quality and nutritional and wellness benefits.
The CWC, established in 1987, drives domestic and export market development activities and health research to support sales of California walnuts around the globe.
To explore recipes and learn more about California walnuts, growers, health research and more, visit walnuts.org.