ESCALON, California (AP) Authorities in California are looking for the thieves who made off with 140,000 pounds (63,500 kilograms) of walnuts.
The theft, estimated at nearly $400,000, occurred Sunday in the small town of Escalon. Investigators say it was one of the biggest to hit the booming industry. Last month, about 12,000 pounds (5,440 kilograms) of walnuts worth $50,000 were stolen from a trailer parked on a highway.
This time several truckloads of walnuts were taken from the facility. Authorities say rising prices about $2 per pound is what appears to be driving the recent walnut thefts.
No arrests have yet been made.
Walnuts are California's fourth-leading agricultural export. China remains the world's leading producer of walnuts.
