Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii: History and Production - ctahr ...

nut surface at room temperature to hold the salt.
In roasting, unevenly applied heat causes the
surface of the kernel to brown rapidly while the
inner portion remains unroasted. Frequent stirring
or agitation of nuts in oil roasting, with an air
blast in dry roasting, is necessary to produce a uniform
product. In spite of roasting nuts as recommended,
browning defects will appear on some
kernels that appeared normal prior to roasting.
These are sorted into lower grades. Good quality
macadamia nuts, after roasting, are light brown to
tan. Kernel moisture content prior to cooking is
critical for the desired texture and stability. It has
been shown that kernels with 1.4 percent moisture
or lower produce nuts with good stability and only
a slight decrease in q uality after 16 months of storage
at temperatures up to 100°F. It has been also
shown that kernels with moisture content exceeding
2 percent are not satisfactory for roasting
(3,12), much less storage.
The oil used in roasting goes through considerable
chemical and physical changes with repeated
use. Evidence gathered by Cavaletto and
Yamamoto (6) indicated that the changes in oil
quality over a period of 13 weeks' use did not affect
flavor or shelf life appreciably. However, if desired,
stability of nuts can be increased by adding the
antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) to the salt
adhesive.
Stainless steel is recommended for the construction
of vats, baskets, and any containers used in
roasting. Hot oil introduces a corrosion problem
with the use of other metal.
Packaging
Premium grade roasted kernels are usually
packed in cans, glass jars, or foil pouches, while
commercial grade kernels are used for candies,
brittles, chocolate-covered nuts, bakery products,
ice cream, and so on (4). One enterprising manufacturer
in Hawaii makes over 100 consumer
products with macadamia nuts. More use of nuts
in the confectionery trade is needed.
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
The marketing and distribution of nuts to the
consumer seem to be matters of sales philosophy,
conceptual differences in marketing, and availability
of funds to promote and sell products. This
statement is especially true with large growers
who see the total picture from growing and on
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through to the grocery shelves, but must confine
operations to a limited area because of their
immediate and current money status. Except for
one completely integrated company, the industry
in Hawaii is made up of specialized companies
and individuals who concentrate on the growing
and production of in-shell nuts, the processing to
produce raw kernels, the processing of roasted
kernels for the grocery shelves, and the distribution.
In time, depending on the size of operation
and the inclination of the individuals involved,
the companies may expand into the next category
very easily. As the specialized companies become
larger, no doubt the integration of the various
production phases into larger companies by
merging or by expansion will happen. This tendency
in growth is universal and very easily attained
when capital monies become available, or
when the added production phase is simply an
addition to an ongoing procedure.
The distribution of consumer products to the
grocery shelves, on the other hand, is quite easy
when the total volume is low, and possibly can be
done by the processors themselves. But as the
volume becomes larger, distribution becomes a
specialized matter that might be handled more
efficiently by brokers and distributors. This is
especially true when a large distributor is equipped
to serve the whole country, with many items to sell
at the same time to spread the distribution cost.
THE FUTURE
The Hawaii Agricultural Reporting Service in
the State of Hawaii released its annual summary
sheet on macadamia nuts on January 19, 1982,
partially reprinted here as Table 4 (14). The
summary indicates that the 1981 in-shell nut
production on farms was 36,000,000 pounds, compared
with 20,980,000 pounds in 1978, for a 72
percent increase in production during this period.
The farm price during this same period increased
by 23.2¢, or 43 percent, over that of 1978. During
the same period, the wholesale price for the dried
raw kernels from the factory increased from $3.25
to $4.75, or 46 percent, over that of 1978.
Although inflation obviously had a part in
these price changes, a big real change in total production
has taken place, indicating that the marketability
of the nuts will undoubtedly become the
next problem in Hawaii.
The Foreign Agricultural Service of the USDA
reported on the production of macadamia nuts in