Record crop returns for Blue Diamond members.

The article reports that almond growers who deliver to Blue Diamond received 2003 crop returns that were 35 percent higher, on a per-pound basis, than in 2002. The co-operative's average payment of $2,900 per acre shattered the old record of $2,500 per acre, set in 1997. The co-operative reported near-record net sales of $541.9 million. Diamond President and CEO Doug Youngdahl said that almond tree plantings are projected to exceed 50,000 net new acres per year through 2010, resulting in a dramatic increase in almond supplies beginning in 2007 and 2008.