<p>California's almond boom has hit 1 million acres, covering a total area bigger than the state of Rhode Island.The Record news of Stockton reports the state's almond harvest is expected to hit a record 2.2 billion pounds (1 billion kilograms) this year.Surging demand for almond snacks in Asia has helped make almonds California's richest agricultural export, surpassing wine grapes and other crops.</p> <p>The doubling of the state's almond acreage since 2000 is controversial because the state has frequent droughts, and nut trees can't be fallowed in a dry year. However, the Almond Board of California says the state has the most efficient almond growers in the world.</p>