Walnuts

History

The walnut is native to southeast Europe and west and central Asia. It is thought that the walnuts grown in North America gained the moniker “English walnuts,” since they were introduced into America via English merchant ships.

Walnuts Today

The English walnut is the most popular type in the United States and features a thinner shell that is easily broken with a nutcracker.

Contents
Fun FactsSeasonNutritionStatisticsHelpful Links
Walnut Tree
Walnut Tree
Walnut
Walnut

Fun Facts

  • Grown for timber as well as its nuts. Uses include food, medicine, shelter, dye and lamp oil.
  • Walnuts have often been thought of as a “brain food”.



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  • Season, Ripeness and Storage

    Seasonality Chart
    State Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Arizona                        
    California                        
    In-Season  

    Season

    Walnuts are harvested in California from late August through November.

    Ripeness

    When purchasing whole walnuts that have not been shelled, choose those that feel heavy for their size.

    Storage

    Due to their high polyunsaturated fat content, walnuts are extremely perishable and care should be taken in their storage. Shelled walnuts should be stored in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator, where they will keep for six months, or the freezer, where they will last for one year. Unshelled walnuts should preferably be stored in the refrigerator, although as long as you keep them in a cool, dry, dark place they will stay fresh for up to six months.



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    Nutrition

    An excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a special type of protective fat the body cannot manufacture. Walnuts’ concentration of omega-3s (a quarter-cup provides 90.8% of the daily value for these essential fats) has many potential health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, to the promotion of better cognitive function, to anti-inflammatory benefits helpful in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anticancer properties.

    Nutrition Facts
    Serving Size: 1 ounce
    Amount Per Serving  
    Calories: 185
      % Daily Value*
    Total Fat: 18.49g 0%
    Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
    Sodium: 0mg 0%
    Total Carbohydrate: 3.89g 1.3%
         Dietary Fiber: 1.9 0% 
         Sugars: 0.74g  
    Protein: 4.32g  
    Vitamin A 0.12% Vitamin C 0.67%
    Calcium 2.8% Iron 4.56%
    *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

    Source: USDA National Nutrient Database


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    Statistics

    County Value
    Tulare 95,200,000
    Stanislaus 87,524,000
    Butte 79,803,000
    Sutter 44,782,800
    Tehama 38,433,800
    Glenn 30,815,000
    Kings 28,679,000
    Yuba 20,680,000
    Yolo 18,547,412
    Solano 18,116,900
    Fresno 16,592,000
    Colusa 12,661,000
    Merced 12,056,000
    Lake 3,352,900
    Madera 3,039,000
    Placer 3,036,009
    Kern 2,942,000
    San Benito 2,010,000
    Shasta 1,436,400
    Contra Costa 1,296,000
    Calaveras 840,000
    Monterey 476,000
    Santa Clara 419,000
    Amador 227,497
    El Dorado 121,600
    Napa 18,200
    Total 523,105,518
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    Helpful Links

  • California Walnuts

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