Today's Why Guy question from Jeff: "Why do some Ripon [California] folks call almonds "Ammonds?"
No matter if you say "ammonds" or "almonds," it’s a cash cow for California — the largest producer of almonds in the world.
We chuckle when farmers call the nut an "ammond" and that way of saying it is usually linked to the older generational farmer. The pronunciation line seems to be north of Modesto for "ammonds" and south of Merced for "almonds."
So, why the two names?
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According to History Professor Dr. Ken Albala at the University of the Pacific, "There were a large number of Dutch settlers in our area a century ago, and the word is “amadel.” And it's also pronounced that way in other parts of California."
Truth be told, there's not clear answer as to why anyone says “ammonds” or to whether it's right or wrong. But that allows for other theories about how the nasty nut was named.
"Mostly growers say 'a-mmonds' because they shake the 'L' out of them," Albala explained. "There is a tiny truck which attaches to each tree and shakes all the nuts off, It feels Like an earthquake."
So, for all of our farmer friends who say "ammonds," you do your thing. There's nobody, especially the Why Guy, who can say you're wrong.
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