From Orchard to Port: Inside Calmond Valley's Export Supply Chain
Understanding how California almonds move from harvest to container vessel helps importers plan procurement timelines and reduce supply chain risk.
The Harvest-to-Export Timeline
California almond harvest runs from mid-August through October. Shaking, sweeping, and hulling are completed within 4–6 weeks of harvest. Kernels move to hulling and shelling facilities where they are cleaned, sized, and graded. From shelling, product enters cold or ambient temperature storage depending on destination and shelf-life requirements. Export-bound product is bagged into 25 kg or 50 lb polypropylene sacks or super-sacks, palletized, and staged for container loading.
Our Processing Facilities
Calmond Valley operates USDA-inspected processing facilities in California's Central Valley. Finished product undergoes metal detection, X-ray inspection, and final weight verification before leaving our facility. We maintain full batch traceability from orchard block to container seal.
Port and Container Logistics
We ship primarily from the Port of Oakland, which offers the most direct routes to Asia-Pacific, with Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach used for Middle East and European destinations. Standard transit times: Japan/Korea 12–14 days; Southeast Asia 18–22 days; Middle East (Jebel Ali) 25–28 days; Northern Europe 28–32 days. We coordinate with NVOCC partners for consolidated loads and maintain direct relationships with major carrier lines for full-container-load (FCL) shipments.
Documentation Package
Every shipment includes: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, USDA Phytosanitary Certificate, Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis, Fumigation Certificate (where required), and Halal/Organic certificates where applicable. Our export documentation team processes shipping papers within 24 hours of container seal.
Planning Your Order
For optimal lead time, place harvest-season orders by July 31. Post-harvest spot orders are accommodated subject to availability. Minimum order quantities start at one FCL (approximately 20 metric tons). Contact our export desk to discuss scheduling and capacity for your next order.