Nuts
Nuts are nature's tiny powerhouses, packed with essential nutrients like healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. From almonds to walnuts, they offer a flavorful crunch and versatile culinary use. Whether enjoyed as a convenient snack or incorporated into meals, nuts contribute to heart health, weight management, and overall well-being. Embrace the wholesome goodness of nuts for a delicious and nutritious dietary boost.
Nuts are a type of fruit with a hard outer shell that encases a seed or kernel. They are consumed as a snack or used in cooking, baking and confectionery, and are a rich source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Common types include almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
For a processor, the value lies in the number of formats a single raw material can serve. Nuts can be eaten raw or roasted, salted or unsalted, and are sold whole, chopped, sliced and ground. They also feed downstream products such as nut butter, granola and trail mixes, and are used in the production of oils, including peanut oil and almond oil.
Commercial production follows five stages. Harvesting is typically done by shaking the tree or using a machine to knock the nuts from the branches, though some nuts such as pistachios require a more delicate process that involves shaking the branches while the nuts are still attached to the tree. Drying removes excess moisture, either by natural methods such as sun drying or with mechanical dryers. Processing may then remove shells or hulls, using mechanical equipment or by hand. Nuts are sorted and graded on size, shape and quality so that only the best nuts reach the market, and are finally packaged and shipped to retailers or wholesalers — with some further processed, roasted or flavoured, before packing.
Nuts carry significant market value and are widely consumed all over the world, entering baked goods, confectionery and snacks. The market spans raw nuts, roasted nuts, salted nuts and nut-based snacks such as nut bars and trail mixes. Major players include California Almonds, Olam International, Blue Diamond Growers, Diamond Foods, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Mariani Nut Company, Treehouse Foods and Kraft Heinz.