Pasteurized almonds--is it federal?

[message boards]

Hi all!

I need to know: what is the deal with raw almonds? I've heard so many confusing beliefs about the law that requires pasteurization of almonds...is this law only in effect for California almonds or does it affect almonds everywhere? I should just ask at my local health food store, but haven't had the time. Last time I was there, the bin that used to say "raw almonds" said "almonds: pasteurized by law" Is that because their source must be California, as some have said, or are all almonds everywhere now required to be pasteurized? I ask because my local grocery store still sells containers that say "raw almonds" I figured I ought to stock up on them (thinking: if it WAS law for all almonds to be pasteurized, they would still allow stores to sell their remaining raw stock). Can someone please enlighten me?

MB

[Sundancer]

I think it is federal. At the co-op where I live in Massachusetts the bulk buyer bought a boatload of them before the law went into effect and so far we still have really raw almonds. You can still buy them from farmers raw, so when I go to California I plan on hitting the awesome farmers market and shipping them home or just bringing them with me, depending on how many pounds I buy.
Sundancer

[Sundancer]

Also, most almonds in this country come from Ca. I think like 90%.

[jroo]

I believe the law applies only to California almonds sold in the United States. So, if you find domestic almonds from some other state, they are not necessarily pasteurized.

The almonds at the grocery store may be pasteurized, since the law allows them to be labeled as raw. The only way to know that you're getting raw almonds is to buy them direct from the grower. They're ripe around Sept., but you can get them as long as the grower hasn't run out. If you have an extra fridge or freezer, you can buy a year's worth and keep them in there there.

Here's some info from a grower of California Almonds: http://www.wholesale-almonds.com/#Ar...%20Pasteurized

[message boards]

Thanks Sundancer and jroo for the replies and thank you jroo for that link! Very informative! Apparantly I CAN buy raw organic, unpasteurized almonds from them! They say that since they are the grower not the middle man that they can legally ship un- pasteurized almonds direct to us, the consumer.

Thanks again!

[Double Helix]

I did buy a few #'s of raw almonds a couple of months ago. I keep them in the refrigerator and use them sparingly, so they will last a while.

[Doktormartini]

Originally Posted by Double Helix

I did buy a few #'s of raw almonds a couple of months ago. I keep them in the refrigerator and use them sparingly, so they will last a while.

How long do almonds usually last before going bad? And what's the best way to store them? Thanks man!

[Double Helix]

You're welcome Dude.

You know I'm not sure, but it should be a few months at least. I put my almonds in glass jars in the refrigerator and every now and then have a few. Not even every week, but maybe a couple times a month.

I try not to eat many nuts, which isn't hard because they are quite heavy. But they are very good and so much better than the kind from the health food store. They are softer and sweeter.

I also got mine from D & S Ranch, so the shelf-life info should be on their site.