Hello Alan & All,

>it was reported that as much as 40% of the '05 almond
crop hadn't sold.

Thanks Alan. I believe you may have solved the riddle!
I have got stacks of figures on my desk. I know exactly how many almond
groves are in production and roughly the amount of available hives in
California and elsewhere for pollination.

Everyway I punch the calculator the answer comes up the same. Shortage of
hives.

Now if that's not the case then the only other possible explanation is
growers not taking bees.

Packages from Australia hardly effect the issue. The Australians  are at
capacity and none I have talked to are considering expansion.

Bob

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