The Almond Board of California has reported stunning exports growth to Europe.

The body, which is responsible for marketing the nut worldwide, is basking in the glow of superb figures, as it revealed the good news at a London industry function on January 17.

International programs director Julie Adams said: 'The crop is looking very good. Shipments are going very well. Exports are up 12 per cent on the same period last year.' And Adams explained that the growth was built on a similar success in the previous season.

She said: 'Last year was also a very good year.' But the US Almond chief admitted that she was unable to quantify exactly demand in the UK, due to the logistics involved in distribution.

She said: 'The difficulty of the EU is that quite a lot of the product is transhipped [via Rotterdam]. Direct shipments are down slightly, but buyers' information would indicate demand has been quite healthy.' She added that the EU was the largest export market for the crop, and that future plans revolved around explaining to the consumer that the product could be used in a wide variety of dishes.

Industry bosses flocked to the showcase, which featured a four-course lunch based around the popular nut at the prestigious Tamarind restaurant in London's Mayfair.

Head chef Atul Kochhar, who recently discovered he had retained his coveted Michelin star - explained that the product was a vital ingredient in Asian cuisine.

He said: 'Almonds have a very long history in India.'

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