Walnuts
The walnuts (genus Juglans) are plants in the walnut family Juglandaceae. They are deciduous trees, 10-40m tall, with pinnate leaves 20-90cm long, with 5-25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts (Pterocarya) but not the hickories (Carya) in the same family.

The 21 species in the genus range across the north temperate Old World from southeast Europe east to Japan, and more widely in the New World from southeast Canada west to California and south to Argentina. The Latin name Juglans derives from Jovis glans, "Jupiter's nuts", the nut fit for a god; throughout recorded history the walnut has widely been regarded as the best nut of any.

--- Wikipedia

California Walnuts

The first commercial plantings in California began in 1867 when Joseph Sexton, an orchardist and nurseryman in Santa Barbara County planted English Walnuts. For several years, walnuts were predominantly planted in the southern areas of California.

Some 70 years after Sexton’s first planting, the centre of California Walnut production moved northward to the Stockton area in one of the most dramatic horticultural moves in history. Better growing areas, improved irrigation, and better pest control methods in the north resulted in greater yields, which gradually increased each year.

The Central Valley of California is now the state's prime walnut growing region. Its mild climate and deep, fertile soils provide ideal growing conditions for the California Walnut. California Walnuts account for 99 percent of the commercial US supply and two-thirds of world supply.

Taste the difference California walnuts make. California's mild climate and deep fertile soil provide the ideal growing conditions for the world's premium walnuts. Harvested at their peak, they are then carefully sorted, cleaned, dried and prepared for you, the consumer.

The California Walnut Commission prides itself on making sure that the walnuts you purchase are of the highest quality. Plump and crisp with a rich, nutty flavour, they add texture and taste to a wide variety of dishes, from salads to desserts.

Global variances in walnut growing and processing standards vary significantly, resulting in quality disparity among imported product to Canada. California’s high growing and handling standards, coupled with the Central Valley region’s ideal growing conditions, result in walnuts that excel in taste and appearance.

In contrast to product originating elsewhere, California walnuts are large, plump, tan in colour and have a mild sweet taste. California Walnuts are stored in-shell under controlled temperatures for optimal shelf life. They are shipped upon demand and only cracked when ordered for the shelled market.

-- Courtesy of California Walnuts