On the 4th of September, World Macadamia Day presents an opportunity to celebrate this iconic South African nut, and the farmers who produce them.
Although the nut hails from Australia, South Africa is the largest producer of macadamia nuts in the world. South Africa has much to be proud of in terms of macadamia nut production: the sector employs nearly 30 000 people across the value chain. Over 700 farmers grow the nuts, with growing regions expanding rapidly across the country. The largest concentration of growers is in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Representing growers in all these regions, Marquis Macadamias is proud to be able to support growers in processing and marketing of their nuts to over 45 countries.
But, all macadamia nuts are not equal. The nut’s high oil content necessitates careful handling, processing, curing and storing to ensure that they maintain quality and provide the maximum pleasurable eating experience. Macadamia nuts have the hardest shell of all the nuts, but this does not mean that the nuts must not be handled with the utmost care.
Roelof van Rooyen, director of Marquis Macadamias, explains that this entails fine tuning every step of the process to ensure that nuts are cured at exactly the right temperatures to maintain crunch and keep the oils from going rancid. “Accurate cracking ensures that nuts are not damaged, and pasteurisation means that consumers are assured of nuts that meet stringent health and food safety standards. It is not a simple process, but for Marquis Macadamias, the investment in cutting edge technology that assures customer satisfaction is not negotiable."
With the vast majority of the South African crop exported, it is often the lesser quality nuts that remain in the local market. With the high prevalence of theft on farms, there is also a sizeable portion of nuts that are sold by unscrupulous traders who have no quality or hygiene systems in place. Consumers are cautioned to steer clear of nuts that have not gone through proper processing and quality control processes. Attention should also be paid to the colour of the nuts. Macadamias should by creamy white or with a slight chocolatey brown tinge if they have been roasted. Honey-yellow, glassy or oily looking nuts are likely to be spoiled.
With the majority of the local crop exported, South Africans can be hard pressed to find sufficient nuts to meet their cravings. With volumes growing as the production increases, stores are however starting to increase their offering. This World Macadamia Day, Marquis Macadamias urges South Africans to take the opportunity to celebrate one of the country’s biggest agricultural success stories and add macadamias to their menu.
For more information:
Marquis Macadamia
Level 12, 133 Mary Street
Brisbane, Queensland
Australia
Tel.: +61 7 3025 4900
marquis.com