Rhymes with salmon

I’m from Chico, where we grow a lot of almonds. We also say the word kind of funny, so it rhymes with “salmon.” I trained myself out of this habit when I went away to college and nobody knew what I was talking about when I said my dad grew “ammins,” but I never lost the habit of eating them a lot. My new obsession is almond butter; I’ve never liked peanut butter, which I find overbearing, but the subtler nutty, roasted flavor of almond butter makes a great breakfast. I spread it on wheat toast with a little plum jam or some dried apricots alongside (which always feels appropriate, plums and apricots being close relatives of the almond). The best I’ve found is the creamy, fresh-tasting Queen of the Valley brand, which is sold at the farmers’ market in Chico. But that’s a long way to go to get a jar; locally, I like the Lagier Ranch brand, sold at the Co-op. It’s a bit pricey, but I like to support the almond growers, however they pronounce the word.