Nut Crops

tree species that yield fruits known by the economic designation of “nuts.” The fruits have a dry, woody shell, which encloses an edible and nourishing kernel. Nut crops include species of the following families: Juglandaceae (English walnut and pecan), Betulaceae (filbert and European hazel), Rosaceae (almond), Pinaceae (Siberian stone pine), and Anacar-diaceae (pistachio). The kernels are rich in fats (42.8–77 percent) and proteins (up to 22 percent). The European chestnut and water chestnut have little fat but a great deal of carbohydrate (more than 50 percent). The caloric value of nuts is higher than that of bread, fish, or meat and almost equals that of butter. Almost all nut crops grow wild on large areas. They are cultivated in the USSR in several regions, including the Caucasus and Middle Asia. They occupy only 4 percent of the area planted with orchard trees.