FAQS |

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of nut are macadamias?

The macadamia nut is a unique Australian native tree nut.

Commercial cultivation of macadamias in Australia began in earnest in the 1980's.

Macadamias grow on trees that evolved over thousands of years on the east coast of Australia in rain forest environments. The trees are evergreen and can only survive in frost free regions of the world. A mature tree grows to about 15 metres high and yields about 15kg of in-shell nuts per year.

Where are macadamias grown?

Macadamias are indigenous to Australia where they were originally called the Queensland Bush Nut. Over 40% of the world's supply is grown in Australia with the remainder being grown in Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

How are macadamias harvested?

Unlike other tree nuts, macadamia trees are not shaken to make them give up their crop. The macadamias fall naturally to the ground when they are ready and are collected by mechanical harvesters, with spoked wheels, which roll over the nuts and pick them up for de-husking on the farm.

Why are macadamias more expensive than other nuts?

The yield from a macadamia tree is about 1/3 to that of other nut trees so they are more expensive to grow. The kernel yield from the in-shell nuts is also much less than other nut varieties. In addition, because the shell is so hard, it is necessary to be extra thorough in the processing to make sure all shell particles are removed ... but the wonderful taste is worth it.

Are macadamia nuts fattening?

Even though macadamias have a high oil content, over 80% is the good monounsaturated fat which is very healthy and may even help reduce the risk of heart disease. Eaten in moderation with a balanced diet, macadamias are unlikely to contribute to weight gain.

How much cholesterol is in macadamias?

None ... Like all tree nuts, macadamias contain no cholesterol. In fact, medical research has shown that eating a small quantity of macadamias each day may even result in a decrease in the levels of the harmful LDL cholesterol without affecting the levels of the good HDL cholesterol.

In fact there has been some very interesting research done by the University of Newcastle on the health benefits of macadamia nuts. Please follow this link to The American Society for Nutritional Sciences, Journal of Nutrition. 133:1060-1063, April 2003 to read this ground breaking article.

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/133/4/1060.

How should I store macadamias?

Raw Macadamias for industrial use packed in our standard 11.34kg and 10kg packs should be stored in a cool dry warehouse (ideally below 12 degrees C)out of direct sunlight. Under these conditions a shelf life of 24 months can be expected.

Roasted product, which is nitrogen flushed and vacuum packed in our standard cartons, should be stored similarly to raw kernel, however the shelf life for roasted product is around 12 months.

Opened product should be stored in a sealed container out off sunlight, preferably in refrigerated conditions.

Can you cut and dice macadamias?

Yes, macadamias can be diced to a variety of sizes ranging from 6 to 8mm (Style 6) down to 3 to 5 mm (Style 8) and Macadamia Meal. For a full description of the various styles we produce and links to download or product specifications sheets please see our wholesale products page.

What size & type of packaging do macadamias come in?

We can pack in various types of packaging subject to customer requirements and volume. Our standard retail pack for the Australian domestic market is a 340gm resealable stand up pouch. For food service we can pack in a 1kg nitrogen flushed vacuum foil pouch. Our standard export carton is 11.34kgs (25 lbs) and contains an inner nitrogen flushed vacuum foil pouch. For Styles 5 and smaller we pack a 10kg (22.04 lbs) export carton which also has a nitrogen flushed and vacuum sealed foil pouch.

How many cartons do you pack in a 20ft sea freight container

We hand stack 1,430 x 11.34kg cartons ( i.e. 16.216 mt or 35,750 lbs) in a standard sea freight container.

What is the price and availability of macadamias?

Because macadamias are vacuum packed for long life they are generally available all year round. Prices vary depending on the size of the kernels, whether wholes or halves, etc. and prices are available on request.

What is a minimum order quantity?

Customers can order a single 340 gm pack from our on-line store and we will mail deliver.

Export shipments from Australia to an overseas destination are generally greater than 1 pallet of 88 cartons. However, we also have stock at warehouse locations in the USA, Europe and the UK from which can supply smaller quantities to wholesale customers.