Today is National Walnut Day

It sounds nutty, but May 17th is National Walnut Day.

Created to promote the consumption of walnuts, the first National Walnut Day was proclaimed in June 1949 by the Walnut Marketing Board.

On March 3, 1958, a Senate Resolution was introduced by William F. Knowland and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the first National Walnut Day, May 17, 1958.

Walnuts are a high-density source of nutrients, particularly proteins and essential fatty acids. Like other tree nuts, walnuts must be processed and stored properly.

Grown for their seeds, the Persian or English Walnut and the Black Walnut are the two most common major species of walnuts.

Fun Facts:

• The English Walnut originated in Persia.
• The Black Walnut is native to eastern North America.
• The husk of the walnut, which is peeled away from the shell at harvest, and contain juice which will readily stain anything it comes in contact with. The husk juice has been used as a cloth dye.
• The United States is the world’s largest exporter of walnuts.
• Ninety-nine percent of the nation’s commercial English walnuts are produced in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of California.

Walnut recipes:

Black Walnut Cake

English Walnut Pie

Pasta with Creamy Garlic & Walnut Sauce