Yunnan was hit by a spring frost; Shanxi by a long drought early in the growing season. Shaanxi, Gansu and Henan had similar patterns to those of Yunnan and Shanxi. The positive note was the increase in young trees in the flat areas and consequent increase in production, mainly due to good irrigation systems.
The good news comes from Xinjiang, which expects another big crop. Broad land, rich water resources and substantial production of premium varieties have made this region the No. 1 walnut origin in China, accounting for 30% of the total crop. Another positive note is that Hebei expects a crop increase of 20%.
For years, Chinese horticulture experts have developed a number of new premium varieties in the major growing regions, being the main advantages color, taste and yield. Several varieties have developed into commercial production, which will support the return of China to the world market with good quality walnuts and competitive pricing.