FYI, Peanuts Aren’t Nuts. This is Why They’re Totally different (And Cheaper).

When individuals need a wholesome snack, they have a tendency to succeed in for nuts — if they will afford them.

At many grocery shops, nuts price much more than a bag of chips. As an example, Walmart sells a 15.25-ounce container of blended nuts for $8.98. At airports, a bag of path combine will get priced at $6 a bag, however a bag of Combos may solely be $3. Why are nuts so costly?

“Tree nuts can take years, if not decades, to mature into a harvestable crop,” meals scientist and meals business marketing consultant Bryan Quoc Le advised HuffPost. “Many of the high-cost nuts, such as macadamia or cashew nuts, require manual labor to separate from the tree. They may also be sorted and graded by hand, which adds additional costs. With fresh nuts, harvest only happens once a year and needs to be processed, distributed and sold within weeks of harvest to achieve peak flavor.”

Different components like local weather change, droughts and wildfires contribute to the excessive price of tree nuts. California produces 80% of the world’s almonds, however one almond makes use of 3.2 gallons of water to succeed in maturation. Costco sells half of the world’s cashews, and so they promote them at a reasonably cheap value of $6 per pound.

“Larger cashews that are unblemished, unbroken and lightly roasted are more expensive,” defined Joshua Reed-Diawuoh, the proprietor of GRIA Meals Co., a Fairtrade African snack firm. “Smaller cashews that have been scorched during processing due to a longer roasting are less expensive. Small cashew pieces are usually the least expensive. Larger cashews have a distinctive and richer taste than smaller kernels and are visually more appealing to many consumers. The quality will also depend on how fresh they are, the storage conditions, and cashew processing steps.”

Dietitian Angel Luk mentioned the macadamia nut is the most costly nut on this planet to develop. “It takes seven to 10 years for the trees to simply start to produce nuts, let alone mature for a substantial harvest,” she advised HuffPost. A pound of macadamia nuts can price as a lot as $25.

Tejal Parekh, a registered and licensed dietitian, defined that low provide and excessive demand make nuts costlier. “Pine nuts are one of the most costly nuts on the market,” she mentioned, and pine nuts — utilized in pesto — will be difficult to extract.

Some nuts are merely priced increased due to their taste and exclusivity, like Marcona almonds, which have a buttery taste. “Marcona almonds are a sweeter, softer variety of almonds that grow exclusively in the Mediterranean coast of Spain,” she mentioned. “Because of this exclusivity, they are costly.”

Put together your self: peanuts aren’t a nut. They’re a bean and a part of the legume household, and so they’re grown underground, not in bushes.

“The reason peanuts are far cheaper to the consumer is because the harvesting and cultivation of peanuts is usually an automated process, not requiring nearly as much manual labor compared against ‘real nuts,’” Luk mentioned.

Elisabeth Burrow, referred to as The Loopy Nut Woman, is an artisan nut farmer and producer who sells nuts below the banner Jewels Underneath the Kilt. “Cheaper nuts are not necessarily of inferior quality,” she mentioned. “Often, they are simply considered ‘seconds,’ which means they might have minor imperfections. These nuts are sold at a lower price because of this, but their quality is still good.”

The standard, as she defined, is set by shade, dimension and texture.

“A good quality nut should have a full, plump appearance, not shriveled or discolored,” she mentioned. “When it comes to roasted nuts, the quality is in the roast — ideally, a perfect golden-brown, like a well-toasted marshmallow. Any added flavors should complement the natural taste of the nut.”

Research have proven nuts of all types are wholesome for us. They’re low in saturated fat, ldl cholesterol free, heart-healthy and a superb supply of protein and fiber. Nonetheless, does the excessive price of nuts deter individuals from shopping for them?

“I definitely think cost is a deterrent to making healthier choices,” Luk mentioned. “I think that many people consider nuts more as a snack food than a source of plant protein and healthy fats. For that reason, it’s understandable that someone would rather spend less on chips as a snack versus double or more for the equivalent amount of nuts. For example, we teach strategies like buying in bulk instead of opting for individual packaging, or using nuts as a topping or ingredient rather than as the main snack.”

Nonetheless, Burrow sees nuts in a different way. “I don’t believe the price discourages people from purchasing nuts,” she mentioned. “Instead, I think most people see them as a special treat and are likely to savor them more than something like a bag of chips. Nuts are often reserved for special occasions or shared with guests.”