National Walnut Day
The United States is the world's largest exporter of walnuts.
17 May recognises a very nutty holiday, as it is National Walnut Day.
The walnut is the rounded, single-seeded stone fruit of the walnut tree and is a high-density source of nutrients, particularly proteins and essential fatty acids. Just like other tree nuts, walnuts must be processed and stored properly to ensure they do not spoil.
The Persian or English Walnut and the Black Walnut, which are grown for their fruit are the two most common major species of walnut. The English Walnut originated in Persia and is commercially produced. The Black Walnut is native to eastern North America, high in flavour and has a hard shell. But, it possesses poor hulling characteristics that prevent it being grown for commercial nut production.
The walnut’s husk, which is peeled away from the shell at harvest, contains juice which will readily stain anything it comes into contact with. This juice has been used to dye clothes.
The United States is the world’s largest exporter of walnuts.
National Walnut Day was create to promote the consumption of walnuts and the first National Walnut Day was proclaimed by the Walnut Marketing Board in June 1949.
On 3 March 1958, a Senate Resolution was introduced by William F Knowland. The Resolution was signed by President Dwight D Eisenhower on the first National Walnut Day which was 17 May, 1958.
To celebrate today, search for a recipe to make one of the following:
• Black walnut cake
• English walnut pie
• Pasta with creamy garlic and walnut sauce
Use #NationalWalnutDay to post on social media.
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