The California Walnut Board reported total April 2026 shipments of 142 million pounds in-shell equivalent, up 25.1% from 113.6 million pounds in April 2025. The growth extended a trend of strong shipments throughout the 2025/26 marketing season, with both domestic and export channels contributing.
In a market environment where supply constraints and price pressure are dominating the narrative, the walnut category is a notable outlier — volume is up, demand is holding, and the supply picture looks healthy. Walnuts are increasingly relevant in produce departments as snacking nuts and health-forward eating continue to drive category growth.
For buyers and category managers, this is a good moment to consider walnut features and promotional activity. With supply strong and the season tracking well above last year, pricing should be relatively favorable compared to categories facing weather and tariff headwinds.