Edible Nut Harvest Hits 690,000 Tons

WASHINGTON - Sep 13/18 - SNS -- Farmers in the United States will harvest more dry nuts this year than last, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Hazelnut production in Oregon is forecast at a record high 52,000 tons, up 63% from last year's final utilized production of 32,000 tons. The September forecast is based on the hazelnut objective measurement survey.

Survey data indicated the percentage of good nuts analyzed in the laboratory was 89.7%. The average dry weight, per good nut, was 2.80 grams, down from 3.03 grams in 2017. The number of nuts picked per tree was 291 in 2018, up from 201 nuts the previous year. Hazelnut brown stain was found in 0.04% of the samples processed in 2018.

The 2018 California walnut production is forecast at a record high 690,000 tons, up 10% from last year's 630,000 tons. The September forecast is based on the walnut objective measurement survey conducted August 1 through August 21, 2018.

Survey data indicated an average nut set of 1,176 per tree, up 3% from 2017's average of 1,141. Percent of sound kernels in-shell was 98.8% Statewide. In-shell weight, per nut, was 22.3 grams, while the average in- shell suture measurement was 32.3 millimeters. The in-shell cross-width measurement was 33.1 and the average length in-shell was 38.1 millimeters. All of the sizing measurements were below the previous year's levels.

Utilized Production of Nuts by Crop - States and United States: 2017
and Forecasted September 1, 2018
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                              :          Utilized Production
        Crop and State        :---------------------------------------
                              :       2017        :       2018
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                              :                 tons
                              :
Hazelnuts in-shell basis      :
Oregon .......................:       32,000              52,000
                              :
United States ................:       32,000              52,000
                              :
Walnuts in-shell basis        :
California ...................:      630,000             690,000
                              :
United States ................:      630,000             690,000
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