What is Mariani Nut Company?

Mariani Nut Company operates as a family-owned grower and processor of almonds and walnuts in California, with operations integrating farming, hulling, shelling, processing, and retail packaging. Company materials indicate Mariani has grown to be among the largest privately-held walnut and almond processors globally. The operation encompasses both company-owned orchards spanning several thousand acres in California's Central Valley and custom processing services for approximately 100 local growers.

The company produces almonds and walnuts in multiple commercial formats including whole, sliced, slivered, diced, chopped, blanched, and seasoned products. Distribution channels serve consumer retail markets through branded and private-label products, industrial customers including confectionery manufacturers and cereal companies, and foodservice operations. Products are distributed domestically across the United States with significant export volumes to Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Processing operations are located in Winters, California, approximately 60 miles northeast of San Francisco in Yolo County. Documentation indicates processing facilities encompass approximately 520,000 square feet. The vertically integrated structure allows the company to control product flow from orchard cultivation through final consumer packaging.

Corporate Foundation

Mariani Nut Company was established in 1972 by cousins Jack and Dennis Mariani, who relocated from California's Santa Clara Valley to establish walnut orchards and processing operations in Winters. The company initially functioned as a small-scale processor handling walnuts exclusively from family-owned orchards. The operation expanded when Martin Mariani joined the business, leading to diversification into almond production and processing.

The company operates as a privately-held family business. According to company statements from 2023, six family members representing three generations actively work in various operational areas including farming, processing, and business operations. The headquarters and primary operations are located at 19 E Grant Avenue, Winters, California 95694, with additional processing facilities in the Winters area including a facility identified as the Buckeye Facility.

Leadership includes Matt Mariani serving as Director of Retail Sales and Marketing. The organizational structure maintains family oversight while operating processing facilities year-round with documented workforce stability. Industry publications from 2016 indicated the company employed approximately 200 people at processing facilities with retention of approximately 95% of employees on an annual basis. More recent reports from 2015 documented employment of approximately 400 workers across farming and processing operations.

Farming Operations

Mariani Nut Company maintains almond and walnut orchards in California's Central Valley region, concentrated in Yolo County near Winters. Company materials indicate the farming operation has expanded to encompass several thousand acres. Orchards are cultivated specifically for nut production using conventional agricultural methods typical to California tree nut farming.

The company employs micro-irrigation and sub-surface drip irrigation systems across all company-owned orchards. According to company disclosures, irrigation systems are designed with zero runoff, incorporating permanent soil moisture monitoring devices placed at various depths throughout orchards to provide evapotranspiration data. This monitoring infrastructure cross-references data from California's regional automated weather stations to optimize irrigation timing and water application rates.

California almond harvest occurs during fall months, typically August through October. Processing operations indicate the hulling and shelling phase operates for approximately 4-5 months during peak harvest season. Following harvest, hulled and shelled almonds are stored in controlled conditions for year-round processing as customer orders are received. Approximately 75% of processed volume serves domestic U.S. markets with the remaining 25% exported internationally.

Walnut cultivation follows similar harvest timing in fall months. The farming operation integrates with processing facilities to handle both company-grown production and incoming harvests from contracted growers throughout the Winters agricultural region. Agricultural by-products including almond hulls and shells are directed to secondary markets for livestock feed, livestock bedding, and soil amendment applications.

Processing Infrastructure

The company operates nut processing facilities in Winters, California encompassing hulling, shelling, sorting, sizing, pasteurization, and packaging operations. Equipment documentation from 2015 indicated processing capacity of approximately 80,000 pounds of recently harvested almonds per hour through automated hulling and shell-cracking machinery. Processing lines incorporate optical sorting systems to remove defective nuts and debris before product grading and packaging.

California regulatory requirements mandate pasteurization of almonds for commercial distribution. Company materials confirm all Mariani almonds undergo pasteurization in compliance with regulations implemented in 2007 by the Almond Board of California and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pasteurization methods employed include steam treatment. The company has installed steam pasteurization equipment for processing walnut products when customer specifications require pasteurized walnuts, though regulatory pasteurization mandates do not currently apply to walnuts.

Processing capabilities include blanching operations for almond skin removal, cutting equipment for producing sliced, slivered, diced, and chopped formats, and seasoning lines for flavored product variants. Packaging operations handle multiple container sizes from retail consumer packages to industrial bulk quantities for food manufacturing customers.

Custom processing services are provided for approximately 100 regional almond and walnut growers. This toll-processing arrangement allows smaller growers to access commercial-scale processing infrastructure while Mariani maintains relationships throughout the local growing community that was established during the company's founding decades.

Product Portfolio

Natural Almonds

The company offers California-grown almonds in natural (unblanched) and blanched formats across multiple specifications:

• Whole almonds: Natural skin-on kernels packaged without additives, oil, salt, or preservatives in various retail and bulk sizes

• Sliced almonds: Blanched and sliced for culinary applications including baking, salads, and garnishing

• Slivered almonds: Blanched and cut into thin strips for baking and cooking applications

• Diced almonds: Smaller chopped pieces for manufacturing and baking uses

• Marcona almonds: Spanish variety processed with olive oil, high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, and sea salt

Seasoned Almonds

Flavored almond products marketed for snacking applications include documented varieties such as:

• Chipotle with Adobo

• Hickory Smoked

• Cinnamon Twist

• Honey Roasted

Seasoned products may contain preservatives including rosemary extract. Specific flavor availability varies based on production scheduling and market demand.

Natural Walnuts

California-grown walnut products are offered in:

• Shelled walnuts: Halves and pieces in natural form

• Chopped walnuts: Various chop sizes for baking and culinary applications

Retail packaged natural walnuts are treated with rosemary extract, a natural flavoring agent used to preserve freshness. Walnut kernels naturally vary in color from extra light to amber depending on growing conditions and harvest timing.

Organic Products

The company currently sells retail packaged organic almonds and walnuts. Organic products are processed in accordance with USDA National Organic Program standards and are subject to the same pasteurization requirements as conventional almonds.

Bulk and Industrial Formats

Industrial customers including confectionery manufacturers, cereal producers, and food processors can source almonds and walnuts in bulk formats with custom specifications for size grading, processing methods, and packaging. See's Candies has been documented as a long-term bulk customer utilizing Mariani nuts in chocolate confections.

Certifications & Quality Standards

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: The following certifications are referenced in company materials and certification databases. AgriLinkage has not independently verified current validity, scope, or compliance status. Certification standing can change based on audit outcomes. Buyers requiring certified products should request current documentation directly from the supplier and verify validity with issuing bodies.

Food Safety Certification

BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards) certification was documented with identifier BRCGS1195385, Grade AA+, with expiration documented as August 2026. BRCGS is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized certification program covering food safety management systems, product safety, quality management, and operational controls. The AA+ grade represents the highest achievement level in the BRCGS scheme. Certification scope and covered facilities should be verified directly with the certification body.

Organic Certification

CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) documentation shows USDA NOP (National Organic Program) certification and Handling certification both with certified status dated November 21, 2013. CCOF is a USDA-accredited certifying agent providing organic certification services. This certification authorizes the handling, processing, and labeling of organic products according to USDA organic regulations. Current certification status and scope of certified products should be confirmed directly with CCOF and the company.

Kosher Certification

Product packaging and company materials indicate products are kosher certified. The specific kosher certification agency and certification scope are not specified in available documentation. Buyers requiring kosher products should request current kosher certificates and verify certification details directly with the supervising agency.

Allergen and Dietary Attributes

Products are documented as naturally gluten-free. Company disclosures note that while nuts are inherently 100% gluten-free, some seasoned almond products are processed in facilities that also handle products containing gluten. Cross-contamination potential should be evaluated by buyers with gluten-free requirements.

Products are peanut-free as the company processes only tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans). Company materials state products have not been genetically modified, as genetically modified almonds and walnuts are not planted in California with variety development occurring through conventional plant breeding methods.

Market Distribution

Mariani Nut Company serves three primary market channels: consumer retail, industrial/food manufacturing, and foodservice distribution. Geographic distribution encompasses domestic U.S. markets and international export markets.

Domestic Markets

Retail products are distributed through multiple channels including grocery retailers, natural food stores, warehouse clubs, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Products are available through major retailers including Costco, various regional grocery chains, and online platforms including Amazon. The company operates a retail storefront at the Winters facility open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Branded retail products carry the Mariani Nut Company name and packaging. The company also produces private-label nut products for retail chains under their proprietary brands. This dual-channel retail approach provides market diversification and volume stability.

Industrial and Food Manufacturing

Bulk nut sales serve confectionery manufacturers, chocolate companies, cereal producers, baking companies, and other food processors requiring almonds and walnuts as ingredients. Long-standing industrial relationships include See's Candies for confectionery applications. Industrial sales provide volume stability and utilize production capacity throughout the year as bulk customers maintain consistent ingredient purchasing schedules.

Export Markets

Export distribution reaches Europe, Asia, and Australia. California produces over 80% of global walnut supply and over 40% of global almond supply according to industry data, positioning California processors as key suppliers to international markets. Specific export volumes and destination countries vary annually based on crop yields, international demand, and exchange rate factors.

Sustainability Initiatives

Disclaimer: The following represents publicly stated initiatives documented in company materials. Independent verification of implementation would require third-party assessment.

Renewable Energy

In 2024, the company installed solar panels documented as capable of generating 100% of power requirements for processing facilities. Solar installation at the Buckeye Facility encompasses over 10,000 solar panels. This infrastructure investment represents a transition from grid-supplied electricity to on-site renewable generation for processing operations.

Equipment Electrification

The company aims to complete transition to an all-electric forklift fleet by 2025. This equipment conversion replaces internal combustion forklifts with electric motor models to reduce direct carbon emissions from material handling operations within processing facilities.

LED lighting has been installed in approximately 75% of processing facilities with automatic sensors on lighting systems to reduce energy consumption.

Zero-Waste Operations

Company materials describe achievement of zero waste in orchard operations by directing all agricultural by-products to beneficial uses. Almond hulls are marketed for livestock feed applications. Almond and walnut shells are sold for livestock bedding and soil aeration products. This by-product utilization converts materials that would otherwise require disposal into revenue-generating secondary products.

Water Management

All company orchards utilize micro-irrigation or sub-surface drip irrigation systems designed for zero runoff. Permanent soil moisture monitoring equipment provides data for precision irrigation scheduling based on actual tree water requirements rather than calendar-based watering schedules. Systems integrate with California's regional automated weather station network to incorporate evapotranspiration data into irrigation decisions.

Carbon Sequestration

Company disclosures reference research indicating California almond orchards sequester approximately 30 metric tons of carbon annually. Tree crops provide carbon sequestration benefits during active production years as growing trees incorporate atmospheric carbon into woody biomass.

Information Currency and Verification

This company profile reflects publicly available information from company website (marianinut.com), business directory listings, certification databases (CCOF, Keychain), industry trade publications (Produce Business, Produce Leaders, California Grown), news articles (Daily Democrat), and retail product listings. Time-sensitive data including processing capacity, facility square footage, employee counts, certification expiration dates, and equipment capabilities may change. Users requiring current information should contact the company directly.

Certification validity and compliance status can change based on audits and operational changes. Buyers requiring certified products should request current documentation from the supplier and verify validity with certification bodies including BRCGS, CCOF, and kosher certification agencies.

AgriLinkage has not conducted independent verification of operational capabilities, facility conditions, or compliance claims. Commercial parties should conduct independent due diligence appropriate to their transaction requirements.

Accessing Current Information

Parties requiring current operational details, product specifications, certification documentation, pricing information, or production capabilities should contact Mariani Nut Company directly through the following channels:

Company Website: www.marianinut.com
Physical Location: 19 E Grant Avenue, Winters, California 95694
Retail Storefront Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Phone: Available through company website contact information

The company website provides product catalogs, specification sheets, contact forms for wholesale inquiries, and direct ordering capabilities for retail customers. Wholesale buyers should use the company contact system to request pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, and custom processing capabilities.

Conclusion: Mariani Nut Company's Position in California Tree Nut Processing

Mariani Nut Company represents a vertically integrated California tree nut operation combining farming, processing, and retail distribution across more than five decades of operation. The family-owned business structure, private ownership, and multi-generational management provide operational stability while the integration of company-owned orchards with custom processing for regional growers creates scale advantages in a consolidated industry.

For commercial buyers, the company's documented certifications (BRCGS food safety, USDA organic, kosher), multiple product format capabilities, and established distribution to retail, industrial, and export markets indicate processing infrastructure and quality systems appropriate for various sourcing requirements. The combination of branded retail presence and bulk industrial sales demonstrates operational flexibility across market channels.

Buyers evaluating Mariani Nut Company as a potential supplier should conduct direct verification of current certification status, request facility information relevant to their quality requirements, obtain product samples for evaluation, and verify production capabilities match volume needs. The company's established presence in California's nut processing sector and documented long-term grower relationships provide indicators of operational stability, though all material claims should be independently verified through direct engagement and appropriate due diligence procedures.