Tid-Bits: Nut Facts

Pecans: A Tough Nut to Crack
pecan

For centuries, Native Americans enjoyed the delicious taste and nutrition of pecans, native to the south central U.S. and northern Mexico. In fact, the name pecan comes from an Indian word, "paccan", meaning "a nut with a shell so hard it must be cracked with a stone." By the 1500s, with the exploration and settlement of Texas, the popularity and demand for pecans had expanded dramatically; commercial productions began in the late 1800s. Today, consumers enjoy more than 500 varieties of this elegant, flavorful nut as snacks and as ingredients in a variety of American and ethnic cuisine.

Cashews: Come Out of Your Shell
When is a nut not a nut? When it's a seed, like a cashew. The tasty cashew grows at the bottom of an edible, pear-like fruit. The precious kernel is encased in a honey-combed protective shell. Because this natural barrier must be removed before their rich flavor can be appreciated, cashews are the only nut marketed exclusively without their shells -- roasted with salt, unsalted for use in cooking, or, as delicious Fisher honey-roasted cashews, perfect for snacking.

Pine Nuts: Pesto Perfect
A favorite in healthful Mediterranean diets, pine nuts are the hard-to-harvest seed of the Stone Pine, also known as pinon in Spain, and pignola in Italy where the variety is richer. A sweet flavored, high protein kernel, the delicate pine nut has been used for centuries in a variety of international cuisines, as a thickener for sauces, the basis of great pestos, a sprinkle of texture atop favorite entrees and crisp salads, and as a savory ingredient in satisfying breads and pastries.

A peanut is a legume (the fruit or seed of leguminous plants, as peas or beans) not a nut, and grows underground like a potato.
The average American consumes 12 pounds of peanuts every year.
Astronaut Allan B. Shepherd took peanuts on his Apollo moon mission.
Peanut butter is not just for kids -- it was invented by an American doctor in 1890 to provide a nutritious and easily digestible food for elderly patients.
Surveys show that men prefer smooth, while women like chunky peanut butter best.
An Australian inventor has developed a vehicle fueled by peanut power.
The world record for eating 100 peanuts, one at a time, is 59.2 seconds.

Almonds: Love and Happiness
Throughout history, almonds have enjoyed religious and social significance. In one Bible story, Aaron's rod blossomed and bore almonds, giving this prized nut the symbolism of divine approval. The early Romans showered newlyweds with almonds as a fertility charm, and almonds were honored as a symbol of good luck for centuries throughout southern Europe. In the Americas, gifts of almonds represent happiness, romance, good health and fortune. And, foods featuring the light, sophisticated flavor of almonds are universally loved.

Walnuts: Old Favorite, Number 1 Nut
walnut

The walnut is the oldest known tree food eaten by man, and remains the number one nut in America today for use in beloved recipes and restaurant best-sellers. Originating in ancient Persia about 7,000 B.C., walnuts were first traded along the Mediterranean by English merchant ships. This fact may be the reference for the misleading name English Walnuts, since England has never produced walnuts commercially. California is the place to be for walnuts today. The state produces 70 percent of the world's walnuts, thanks to the introduction of the trees to the region by Franciscan fathers from Mexico and Spain in the late 1700s.

Hazelnuts: Just Call Me Filbert
Also named filberts because these flavorful nuts ripen about the time of St. Philibert's Day, August 20th.

Sunflower Kernels: Added Benefit
Sunflower kernels are a healthy addition to just about any recipe.

Macadamias: Down Under
Macadamia nut trees are native to the rain forests of Queensland, Australia.