Nuts: A Versatile and Nutritious Food

Nuts are a versatile and nutritious food, ranging in size and used in various products, from peanut butter to biofuel, and are a significant part of the global food industry. Eating nuts can reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular problems, but many people are unaware of what constitutes a nut. Technically, common nuts like almonds, pistachios, and peanuts do not meet the botanical definition of a nut, with some being seeds or legumes instead.

History of Nuts

Nuts have a rich ancient history in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with evidence of walnut shells dating back to 7000 BC in Iran and being highly valued by the ancient Romans. Almonds were also introduced to new regions through the Silk Road and by traders, eventually spreading throughout Europe. Both walnuts and almonds were brought to America by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century.

Nut Production in California

Almond and walnut orchards initially struggled in coastal climates, but after World War II, farmers moved to the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, where the Mediterranean climate is suitable for nut production. Today, walnuts and almonds thrive in the central valley, with walnuts being pollinated by wind and almonds relying on bee pollination, requiring growers to bring in beekeepers from around the world during the brief 10-20 day fertile period each spring.

Harvesting and Processing

By fall, the kernel and shell of nuts like almonds and walnuts are fully formed and protected by a leathery hull. Harvesting begins in August for almonds and September for walnuts, with all nuts gathered during an intense eight-week period. The nut industry has evolved, with newer tree varieties bearing fruit quicker and being more disease-resistant. Technology has also improved harvesting methods, replacing labor-intensive manual shaking with mechanical shakers featuring powerful hydraulic arms.

Walnut Processing

Walnuts are collected from the ground using a windrow machine and funneled into narrow roads to be picked up by a sweeper. The nuts are still in their protective hulls, which are removed, and the nuts are then cleaned and inspected. Nearly half are immediately processed and shipped for the holiday season, while the rest are stored in refrigerated facilities, where they can last up to 24 months, and drawn out as needed for further processing.

Peanut Butter Production

Peter Pan has been making peanut butter for nearly 90 years and is one of the founding brands of the industry. The company’s factory in Sylvester, Georgia, is highly automated, featuring advanced systems for grinding, cooling, and packaging, and can produce close to 50,000 pounds of peanut butter per hour with just 12 people. The recipe has remained largely unchanged since 1928, using basic ingredients like sugar, salt, and 90% Georgia peanuts.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are native to the Australian rainforest, where their hard shell protected them from predators and diseases. Aboriginal tribes prized the nuts for their rich flavor, smashing them open with rocks. The species was cataloged in 1858 by Ferdinand von Mueller, who named it after John McAdam. Mauna Loa, a company in Hawaii, has developed a proprietary high-tech cracking system to crack macadamia nuts, processing 33 million pounds annually.

Pecans

Pecans are a unique nut native to North America, with a rich history and genetic diversity. The USDA pecan breeding program in Texas houses the largest repository of pecan varieties, offering opportunities for scientific and commercial growth. Understanding how native pecans adapted to different climates can help the industry, now worth $800 million annually, improve nut production and reliability, as growers seek to create a better nut and overcome the challenge of pecan trees only bearing every other year.

Pistachios

Pistachio cultivation began in the US in the 1960s, and Paramount Farms now has 28,000 acres of pistachio orchards in the San Joaquin Valley, posing unique challenges for growers and processors due to their grape-like cluster growth and shell hardening process. Pistachios are harvested by splitting open the shakers, causing them to cascade onto large tarps to prevent them from touching the ground, as their wet hulls can cause discoloration.

Alternative Energy Sources

Other entrepreneurs are exploring alternative energy sources, such as the Indian jatropha nut, which can be used to produce biodiesel and is being cultivated in the US on non-prime land. Jatropha plantations in California could produce a significant amount of oil, with estimates of 3 million gallons per year after 18 months and 30 million gallons per year after 7-10 years, making it a promising source of oil from a relatively small land area.

Uses of Nuts

Nuts have various uses, including:

• Food: Nuts are a nutritious food, rich in minerals and vitamins.
• Biofuel: Nuts can be used to produce biofuel, providing a sustainable energy source.
• Medicine: Peanut butter has medicinal roots and is used to combat malnutrition and starvation.
• Cosmetics: Ground walnut shells are used in cosmetics and other applications.
• Oil drilling: Ground walnut shells are used in oil drilling due to their dense and hard but less abrasive properties.

Conclusion

The nut industry is driven by innovation, with scientists and breeders continually seeking improvement, even for ancient nuts like the pecan. With the growing demand for nuts, the industry is expected to continue to evolve and expand, providing new opportunities for growth and development.

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who keeps and maintains beehives’?

A) Farmer
B) Beekeeper
C) Harvester
D) Processor

2. What is the term for ‘the process of transferring pollen from one plant to another’?

A) Harvesting
B) Processing
C) Pollination
D) Cultivation

3. Which word means ‘a type of machine used to collect nuts from the ground’?

A) Sweeper
B) Windrow machine
C) Mechanical shaker
D) Hydraulic arm

4. What is the term for ‘a type of nut that is native to the Australian rainforest’?

A) Pecan
B) Pistachio
C) Macadamia nut
D) Walnut

5. Which word means ‘a type of fuel that is produced from living organisms’?

A) Biodiesel
B) Biofuel
C) Petroleum
D) Fossil fuel

Answer Key:

1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Tense to Describe Unfinished Actions or States

Grammar Quiz:

1. The company ____________________ peanut butter for nearly 90 years.

• has made
• is making
• has been making
• was making

2. By the time the harvest season arrives, the kernel and shell of nuts like almonds and walnuts ____________________ fully formed.

• are
• have been
• will be
• have been being

3. The nut industry ____________________ significantly over the past few decades due to advances in technology and farming practices.

• has evolved
• evolves
• was evolving
• is evolving

4. Paramount Farms ____________________ 28,000 acres of pistachio orchards in the San Joaquin Valley.

• owns
• has
• is having
• has had

5. The USDA pecan breeding program ____________________ the largest repository of pecan varieties for many years.

• has housed
• houses
• is housing
• has been housing

Answer Key:

1. has been making

2. have been

3. has evolved

4. has

5. has housed