ABSTRACT
Important Publications ...................................................................................................................807
To define a nut can “drive you nuts.” Some literature describe nuts as “dried fruits, with seeds,” which is correct. Others restrict the definition to “fruits with split hulls” from the nut family. Some list peanuts as “the ideal example of a nut,” whereas others correctly classify the peanut as a legume. Others describe nuts as “pods with seeds.” The fact is that many definitions of nuts in today’s literature are technically correct, yet also incorrect. In various parts of the world, different definitions are used interchangeably to further confuse matters. For the purpose of this study, a nut is loosely defined as the “edible seed kernel of trees.” This study will cover the four major nuts in the food processing industry: almond (
Prunus amydalus
), hazelnut (
Corylus avellana L.
