The Common walnut (Juglans regia ) originated in the Middle East and is not a true nut but a highly nutritious edible seed. It is harvested in autumn,
The Common walnut (Juglans regia ) originated in the Middle East and is not a true nut but a highly nutritious edible seed. It is harvested in autumn, normally from mid-September to early November, when a high percentage of nuts have split green hulls, indicating maturity. Ethephon, an ethylene-producing compound, may be used to speed up maturity. The harvested nuts are hulled and heat dried to reduce moisture content before storage or processing. Processors buy walnuts in-shell and then crack, grade, and package them for marketing but there is still a seasonal market for walnuts in the shell and they can remain fresh for more than 12 months. Perigord walnuts, like this Franquette variety, have a high reputation and along the banks of the Dordogne there is archeological evidence that they have formed part of the diet for 17000 years. Photographed in Perigord, France.
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Photo credit: © MARTYN F. CHILLMAID/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
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