Hull Pile Kernel Recovery:
From Co-Product to Profit

Almond Leadership Project by Kiki Sandrini

Turn Hull Piles Into Profit

Recover lost almond kernel value—without disrupting your operation.

Every year, almond hullers unknowingly lose thousands to millions of dollars in recoverable kernel value buried in hull piles. Chandler Automation’s kernel recovery initiative proves that existing, scalable technology can capture that value today—creating fast ROI for processors and growers alike.

👉 Calculate Your Recovery Opportunity with Chandler Automation.
👉 Talk to an Automation Specialist: Kiki Sandrini 661-515-5015

Watch the Presentation Below

By: Kiki Sandrini

Why This Matters

Hidden Losses Are Adding Up

Even facilities that already perform pre-cleaning are still losing measurable kernel value into hull waste streams. Testing across multiple California hullers shows that kernel loss is happening at every scale of operation—often without visibility.

At conservative recovery rates, losses can exceed $50,000 annually. At higher recovery potential, that number can climb into the hundreds of thousands—or more depending on throughput and kernel pricing .

The Process

Ultra Vac System (UVS)

Ultra Vac Systems (UVS):

High-capacity air aspiration separation
Captures kernels before they enter waste streams
Improves product presentation for downstream sorting
Compact, low-maintenance, and easy to integrate

This recovery step reduces burden on optical sorters while capturing value that would otherwise be lost—with minimal operational disruption .

fast foward thinking

Conclusion

Kernel value is currently lost in hull piles across California
4 out of 5 hullers in this study already perform pre-cleaning, yet measurable kernel loss still occurs
Even at low recovery performance, losses reach tens of thousands annually
Technology exists today to capture this value efficiently
Recovery improves profitability, resource efficiency, and sustainability
UVS recovery creates fast ROI that benefits both processors and the growers they represent.

This is money back not only for the huller/sheller & processor but for the grower

Recovery Innovation Starts Here

Kernel recovery is no longer a future concept—it’s a proven opportunity available today. With the right approach, hull piles can shift from overlooked byproduct to measurable profit center.

Let’s find out what you’re leaving behind—and how to recover it.

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👉 Download the Project Summary