With the USDA predicting a record 575,000-ton walnut harvest in California, which grows nearly all of the crop, “a price slide heralds the first sign of vulnerability for the Golden State’s enduring nut boom,” reports Capital Press. Relatively mild summer weather and doses of irrigated water outweighed the effects of drought and lack of chilling hours last winter. Young, vigorous trees also are boosting the harvest. Some 45,000 acres of the 300,000 acres of walnut groves in the state came into production since 2010. “The new acreage comes as growers are experiencing their first protracted price slide in years,” said Capital Press. It quoted farm manager Michael Vassey as saying an average price of $1.20 a pound is expected this year, compared to $2.05 in 2013 and $1.80 last year. Larger crops and economic slowdown in China are among the reasons for the decline in walnut prices, said Vassey.