ABSTRACT
I. ALMOND The sweet almond (Amygdalus communis) originated in the Mediterranean basin and has been cultivated from ancient times. One race of the almond, which produces bitter nuts, is grown in some parts of Europe, largely for the manufacture of flavoring extracts. The soft-shelled cultivars are commercially more important than the hard-shelled ones. The principal commercial producers during 1990 were the United States, Italy, Iran, Tunisia, and Turkey (Table 1).
