As a rule all domestic almonds are pasteurized by "heating them using steam, irradiating them using a controversial ionization process, roasting or blanching them, or treating them with propylene oxide." There are a few exceptions to this rule.

The kicker is that you can do all of the above to almonds and still call them "raw." These are the almonds you can buy in the grocery store. You can find local sources for imported raw, or buy them online. See the links below.

The pasteurized process destroy enzymes in the almond. The pasteurized almond dose not sprout. These almonds are no longer alive. Much of the health benefits of raw almonds are derived from the living enzymes in the nut. Pasteurizing kill the nut.

The Natural Family Today Website goes into more detail about raw versus pasteurized almonds: Pasteurizing Almonds: Good or Bad?

Follow this link for more information on the: Health Benefits of Almonds

-Mark-

P.S.: Nice shot at California. It almost went by without notice.