These Facts Are Just Nuts
Sunday
Nuts are old. Archaeologists have found evidence that people were eating nuts up to 780,000 years ago.
Monday
Botanically speaking, nuts are fruits with a hard shell, a single seed, and a protective husk. Accordingly, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and pecans are “true nuts,” while pistachios, almonds, and peanuts are not.
Tuesday
Chemist and former slave Dr. George Washington Carver famously created about 300 products from the versatile peanut, including foods, beverages, medicines, soaps, cosmetics, paints, fuels, and animal feeds.
Wednesday
Over half of the US honeybee population is used to pollinate California’s $11 billion annual almond harvest, though this job turns out to be very rough on the bees’ health and survival.
Thursday
Despite the name, Brazil only produces 2% of the world’s Brazil nuts. 78% of them are grown in Bolivia.
Friday
The humble peanut is the most-consumed nut in the US and world. The almond is a distant second.
Saturday
The pine nut is aptly named; it comes from the pine cones of several pine tree species.