@aescling ⓐ a huge percentage of the water in california is dedicated to almond production as almonds are california’s most lucrative export crop. ⓑ california was in a drought from 2011–2017 and 2020–2022. ⓒ during the ~2017 drought, for example, an estimated 10% of california’s water went exclusively to almond production. this is water that could have gone to things other than large corporate farms pursuing a cash crop.

on the west coast these facts are pretty widely known. capitalism strongly incentivises investment of water in CA towards corporate farming as long as demand remains high. California produces 80% of the world's almonds and 100% of the United States commercial supply, so it’s not possible to buy almonds which are not implicated in this. consequently, many people here try to limit their almond consumption

@aescling (a different wikipedia page which seems more reliable ranks the united states as only 57% of world almond production but it is still true that every almond you encounter in the U·S comes from California)

@Lady @aescling oh right i forgot that "over here" isn't west coast anymore