Almonds (Prunus communis var dulcis) were a traditional crop in Provence but in many areas only old and dying trees remain. Now new orchards, such as this with over 15000 trees, on the Valensole plateau produce a crop for sweet almond oil production and high quality almond products. The fruit of the almond is a drupe not a true nut. The outer hull, the exocarp, is covered a leathery coat covered in fine hair which splits open in autumn. Inside, a hard shell, the endocarp, encloses an edible seed. Photographed in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France.