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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179680
Title: RAPID METHOD FOR ON-FARM QUALITY EVALUATION OF MACADAMIA NUTS

Author
item GENTRY, TREVOR - USDA-ARS
item Wall, Marisa
item NAGAO, MIKE - UNIV. HAWAII

Submitted to: University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Bulletin
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2005
Publication Date: 7/20/2005
Citation: Gentry, T., Wall, M.M., Nagao, M. 2005. Rapid method for on-farm quality evaluation of macadamia nuts. University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Guide F&N-11a, 4 pp.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Macadamia nut processors routinely sample nuts received from a grower to determine the moisture content and quality of a lot. Commonly, the price paid to the grower is based on this quality evaluation. A simple drying method is described for on-farm quality evaluation of macadamia nuts. Wet-in-shell (WIS) macadamia nuts are dried to 1.5% kernel moisture content in a dehydrator at 63'C, cracked, shelled, and floated in a water bath to separate mature from immature kernels. The percent kernel recovery is calculated, the kernels are sorted for quality defects, and the percentage of good quality kernels is determined. This inexpensive method will allow growers to assess the quality of their macadamia nuts prior to processing, and provides a cross-check against a processor’s quality evaluations.