‍Bill Lyons knows farming.

His family has owned the Mape’s Ranch for more than 90 years.They raise cattle and grow a wide assortment of crops – walnuts, tomatoes, corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, beans and wine grapes. One of the most valuable produce is the almond.

California dominates world production, producing 80 percent of the world's almond supply. Lyons says this year will yield a good crop. But uncertainty fills the air as to whether the demand will still be there.

California exports two-thirds of its almonds. And China has become the third largest market.

There’s already a 10-percent tariff. But now, following President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel, China has hit nuts and almonds with an extra 15-percent tariff, pushing the total to 25 percent.

Will Chinese consumers be willing to pay that high of a price for California almonds, or just turn to domestic almonds, or perhaps Australian or Chilean ones?

California almonds won’t be harvested until late August or September, so Lyons remain optimistic.

"With any business negotiation on both sides they will use different positions to better their own position, and it’s unfortunate that almonds and California crops have gotten brought to the table in a sense as a bargaining chip from both sides. So I really think that the Chinese government and the American government both are good negotiators and I think they understand we need to do business, we need to have trade and I think they’ll work things out. That’s the optimistic side of me for being a farmer for the last 30, 40 years," Lyons said. 

Lyons was the California secretary of food and agriculture back in 1999. His position is now filled by Karen Ross.

"China has quickly grown to the third largest market for agricultural goods, they like our quality, they like our food safety standards, they know that we grow at a very high labor and environmental standards. The quality of our product speaks for itself. We have a fast growing market there, so we are not going to back away from it. I think this is a hiccup and we want to get through this in the most positive way we can."