California Walnut Commission Praises USDA's Finalized $30 Million Walnut Purchase; Robert Verloop Comments

FOLSOM, CA - 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."