NATIONAL WALNUT DAY
May 17th recognizes a “nutty” holiday. Each year on this day, it is National Walnut Day.
Rounded, single-seeded stone fruits of the walnut tree, walnuts are a high density source of nutrients, particularly proteins and essential fatty acids. Like other tree nuts, walnuts must be processed and stored properly.
Grown for their seeds, the Persain or English Walnut and the Black Walnut are the two most common major species of walnuts.
- English Walnut
– originated in Persia
– commercially produced
- Black Walnut
– native to eastern North America
– high flavor
– hard shell and poor hulling characteristics prevent it commercial growth for nut production.
The husk of the walnut, which is peeled away from the shell at harvest, contain juice which will readily stain anything it comes in contact with. The husk juice has been used as a cloth dye.
The United States is the world’s largest exporter of walnuts.
Ninety nine percent of the nation’s commercial English walnuts are produced in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of California.