Featured Content

3 Expo West Trends That Walnuts Cracked

February 28, 2024

3 Ways to Build Your Snack and Trail Mix with Walnuts

Popular, portable and nutritious, trail mixes are a snack option that are no longer restricted to hikers, campers or adventurous consumers. Not only have eating...
January 19, 2024

Putting the “Plant” Back in Plant-Based Alternative Meats

To date, the plant-based category has almost exclusively been focused on making meatless versions of meat with long lists of ingredients that are hard to...
January 18, 2024

Walnut Cereals, Granolas Add Nutrition to All-Day Breakfasts

Product developers are adding walnuts to cereal and granolas, particularly because walnuts are a delicious and nutritious way to enhance these traditional breakfast products. Now...
January 4, 2024

Maine Crisps Formulates with Walnuts, Buckwheat Flour in Award-Winning Product

Maine Crisp Founder Karen Getz’s mission is to pair wonderful ingredients together in products that consumers will love. An award-winning cheese maker, Getz also has...
December 21, 2023

Bite-Sized Walnut Products Provide Perfect Snacking Opportunities

We’ve seen a boom of new made-with-walnut snack products this year as a result of the continuing snackification of most Americans. In particular, bite-size snacks...
November 21, 2023

Walnuts Serve as Plant-Based Center-of-Plate Solution

Walnuts are a nutritious and versatile plant-based ingredient that is no longer confined to the snack aisle. They’re becoming center stage for product developers who...
November 21, 2023

California Walnuts Help Make Struesli ‘For Everyone’ Granola

Struesli Organic Granola is versatile in how consumers can use it and eat it, but it’s also very versatile in specifically who can eat it....
November 20, 2023

Glenda’s Farmhouse Walnut Crumbles Diversify Entrées

Consumers have spoken. They want to put the “plant” back in plant-based. Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council’s top 10 food trends of 2024 list shows...
November 20, 2023

Noshing on Walnut Product Dips, Spreads and Butters

During the pandemic, consumers wanted more from spreads, dips and nut butters, resulting in a unique opportunity for food manufacturers to experiment with comfort and...
August 9, 2023

The Future of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Have plant-based meat alternatives reached a ceiling? The jury is still out, but there is evidence of a consumer acceptance plateau. Why? Consumers are starting...
August 9, 2023

5 Versatile Ways to Use Walnuts in Retail Baking

A Case Study from the California Walnut Commission on Red Truck Bakery. Red Truck Bakery in Piedmont, Virginia, loves developing new bakery food recipes with...
July 28, 2023

Formulating CPG Products with Walnuts to Capitalize on Mediterranean Diet’s Popularity

The Mediterranean Diet was ranked the “best diet overall,” according to US News & World Report for the sixth year in a row. Walnuts are...
July 26, 2023

Walnut Products Crunch Through Sweets & Snacks Expo

Snacking has evolved into a full-fledged lifestyle in the U.S., with younger generations fueling future sales potential and an uptick in the number of snacking...
July 26, 2023

3 Takeaways From Summer Fancy Food Show

The future is now at the Specialty Foods Association Summer Fancy Food Show, and walnuts proved to be an ingredient with a wide range of...
May 16, 2023

From Breakfast Tacos to Wonton Tacos: How California Walnuts are Revolutionizing Plant-Based Protein

Previous Next What’s for breakfast? California walnuts. Our favorite tree nut took center stage at the Culinary Institute of America’s Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit in...
April 12, 2023

Walnuts + Chocolate Exemplify Permissible Indulgence

The focus on healthful indulgence knows no boundaries, and even the chocolate category’s manufacturers are answering the consumer call for sweets mixed with nutritious ingredients....
April 12, 2023

Walnuts Add Plant-Based Transparency to Food Bars

Consumers want to know what’s in the products they are buying. In fact, label reading has never been more popular. New Hope Network reported that...
April 3, 2023

Walnuts Propel Natural Trends at Expo West

Touted as the “best Expo West in a decade,” the New Hope Network family of brands put on quite a show, hosting more than 3,000...
March 3, 2023

Specialty Foods with Walnuts Star at Winter Fancy Food Show

The recent growth of the specialty foods category has surprised even the most seasoned food industry expert. Here’s the proof, according to the Specialty Food...
January 28, 2023

Diet, Aging and Quality of Life – The Case for Walnuts

One of the first definitions on healthy aging defined it as being “…free of disease; can function at a high physical and cognitive level, are...
December 22, 2022

Walnuts, Fruit Combine for Winter Product Delight

From cranberries to dates to a wide array of berries, fruits mixed with walnuts is a staple flavor pairing that satisfies a nostalgic craving most...
November 23, 2022

Walnuts Power New Product Development in Bakery Category

There’s a “pent-up consumer demand for new retail bakery products,” according to bakers who shared their thoughts with Baking Business. That’s good news for product...
November 21, 2022

Remixing Trail Mix: How Do Walnuts Fit In?

Trail mix was originally born from an on-the-go concept, having a packaged snack that active people could literally take with them while hiking, biking and...
November 9, 2022

Natural Products Expo East Delivers Wellness Brands and Walnut Products

Over the course of four days at Natural Products Expo East (NPEE) in Philadelphia, the California Walnut Commission saw countless new products and listened to...
August 10, 2022

Walnuts Contribute to Specialty Food Performance Gains

Consumers are intrigued and more interested in the importance of food than ever before. This is why specialty food outperforms other foods year over year...
August 5, 2022

Taking a Bite Out of Confectionery Trends

Walking the show floor at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo at Chicago’s McCormick Place was a treat in itself, as eating occasions were a...
July 29, 2022

Made-with-Walnut Products Take Top Honors at sofi™ Awards

Walnuts played a starring role at this year’s Specialty Food Association’s prestigious sofi awards, presented at the Summer Fancy Food Show, with five products featuring...
July 28, 2022

Supernola Superfood Clusters Renews Commitment to Walnut Lovers

The California Walnut Commission (CWC) recently attended the Sweets & Snacks Expo where we talked to several food manufacturers about why they use walnuts. One...
June 27, 2022

Step One Foods Names Walnuts as Ideal Whole Food Ingredient

Step One Foods was developed by cardiologist Elizabeth Klodas, M.D., who wanted to offer her patients a simple dietary solution for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels....
June 27, 2022

Less Is More with Sweets & Snacks Expo Walnut Products

At the 2022 Sweets & Snacks Expo, snackification came to life as every eating occasion spurred a personalized approach to packaging. This was especially true...
June 24, 2022

Confection Connection: The Sweet Combination of Walnuts and Chocolate

Midyear trend predictions in the confectionery category mark both a nostalgic trip down memory lane and an exciting look at what’s ahead. No surprise, chocolate...
June 22, 2022

Product Developers Capitalize on All-Day Breakfast Trend

Variety is the spice of life they say, but with more and more Americans eating breakfast throughout the day, variety is now being defined as...
June 21, 2022

Mediterranean Diet Recipes Inspire New Product Formulations

The nuts, the oils, the fruits: the smells and tastes of summer are complete in the Mediterranean, but consumers don’t have to hop on a...
May 3, 2022

Case Study: Komo Foods

Komo Brings Walnuts to Plant-Based Pasta Sauces Komo’s hearty vegan Bolognese sauce made with walnuts is one of the only products of its kind on...
April 6, 2022

Mining Trends from Thousands of New Product Launches

After a two-year forced pandemic break, one of the largest natural foods shows in the world returned to massive crowds and thousands of new product...
April 6, 2022

Made-with-Walnut Products Star at Natural Products Expo West

It was a tale of two shows for made-with-walnut products at Natural Products Expo West, one of the largest trade shows in the world for...
April 4, 2022

Meal Replacement Bars Feeding Competitive Plant-Based Space

Head to your local supermarket, and the competitiveness is evident in the bar aisle. A need for an energy boost, a tide-me-over snack or grab-and-go...
March 7, 2022

What’s on the Shelf? Made-with-Walnut Foods!

A day at the grocery store can be filled with endless choices. How can product developers stand out? Walnuts! This amazing, whole-food ingredient can integrate...
February 11, 2022

The Secret in the Sauce? Walnuts!

Head down the spread, sauce and condiment aisles at your local supermarket, and you’ll see hundreds of bottles, jars and containers. The variety can be...
February 3, 2022

2022 Trend Reports Position Walnuts as Nut of Choice

Turning over the proverbial page to a new calendar year lends itself to renewed spirits, fresh outlooks, and new trails to blaze. Experts in the...
November 30, 2021

Made-with-Walnuts Products That Cracked the 2021 Code!

You don’t need a nutcracker to see that walnuts have burst onto the grocery store shelf scene unlike any other year. The growth in versatile...
November 2, 2021

What’s the Saucy Secret? Walnuts!

No matter if you ladle, dip, spread or squeeze, sauces are a mainstream ingredient that add endless possibilities to the foods we eat. Sauces are...
October 14, 2021

4 Key Snacking Trends That “Walnut” Disappoint

Heading into the fall and winter seasons, consumers are snacking more than ever according to market research company IRI. This is good news for walnut...
October 7, 2021

Plant-Based Made-with-Walnut Snacks Pack a Crunch at Natural Products Expo East

The trade show floor at Natural Products Expo East was teeming with a plant-based, all-natural array of food and beverage products. Companies from across the...
September 28, 2021

Love Your Heart

The Latest Research on Walnuts + Heart Health Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in Americans1, and caring for your heart is...
August 27, 2021

Food for Thought: The Role of Walnuts in Healthy Aging

Research on the role of diet and healthy aging continues to evolve. New scientific evidence reveals information on quality of life, independence, cognitive function, and...
August 20, 2021

The Power of Crunch

The term “crunch” packs a punch with consumers when it comes to sensory appeal and the foods we enjoy. Walnuts provide a satisfying crunch with...
August 3, 2021

Walnuts Go Back to the Future at Sweets & Snacks Expo

For the first time since 2019, the California Walnut Commission walked a show floor looking for the latest trends, newest flavor combinations and the “wow”...
August 2, 2021

Crunching the Way Through Sweets & Snacks Expo Walnut Products

You can’t spell nutrition without “nut,” and we were truly excited to see the variety of better-for-you snacks and confections that were exhibited at this...
June 9, 2021

Craveable, Crunchable Comforting Cookies Enjoy Staying Power with Walnuts

A recent story in Baking Business made the statement that nuts “provide unlimited opportunities” for creativity in baked goods. Walnuts in particular provide cookies with...
June 3, 2021

Walnuts Correspond with Latest Flavor, Consumer Trends

Taste, flavor, sweet, salty, savory: How do we define these industry buzzwords and spin them into products that will make consumers readily grab packages off...
June 2, 2021

Walnuts Prime Ingredient for Confection Connection

Comfort, nostalgia, taste and a yearning for something new are all main drivers in how consumers will choose their confectionery products in 2021. Walnuts and...
April 28, 2021

3 Tips to Raise Your Snack IQ

Snacking has been on the rise in recent years, with the vast majority of Americans snacking at least daily, if not multiple times a day....
April 27, 2021

Sustainability a Year-Round Focus for Food and Beverage Industry

Although April is Earth Month, food and beverage manufacturers have moved sustainability initiatives and marketing efforts to a year-round commitment. Many of these companies formulate...
April 12, 2021

Why Everyone is Talking About the Green Mediterranean Diet

There’s a reason the Mediterranean diet is consistently ranked one of the best eating styles for overall wellbeing. This year, both The Good Housekeeping Institute and US News and World...
April 1, 2021

Easy Ways to Support Gut Health, and Why It Matters

There’s no doubt that modern life can be stressful on many of us, and we’re increasingly learning more about how our mental health can directly...
April 1, 2021

Walnuts Pave the Way for Clean Ingredient Plant-Forward Alternatives in 2021

As plant-forward trends reach global phenomenon status, their rising mainstream appeal is driving expansion into different categories and accelerating the demand for new formats and...
April 1, 2021

Global Flavors Inspire Traveling Around the World with Walnuts

With less travel and many consumers trying to balance a mix of comfort and exploration, globally inspired foods are trending upward and inspiring U.S.-based manufacturers...
March 30, 2021

Convenience Marks Prime Time for Walnuts to Hit Snackification Boom

All-day snacking is making a shift away from trend status to an integrated part of our lives. It’s now a “lifeline,” according to Mondelēz’s Annual...
February 26, 2021

Nutrition – It’s Personal

It seems like we’ve been hearing for decades about the best way to improve our health, with new eating trends coming in and out of...
February 24, 2021

The Truth About Women’s Weight, Midlife and Plant-Forward Eating

The transition to menopause, which is technically defined as 12 consecutive months without a period, can last up to 10 years. During the run-up to...
February 22, 2021

Made-With-Walnuts Products Use Heart-Healthy Labels to Attract Consumer Attention

Yes, we love celebrating American Heart Month in February, but food and beverage manufacturers understand the importance of developing heart-healthy snacks that can be enjoyed...
February 22, 2021

Plant-Forward and More Protein: It’s What Consumers Want

The versatility of walnuts has cast the ingredient in a new starring role this year: plant-based source of protein. Whether walnuts are incorporated in a...
February 22, 2021

New Year, New You: Walnut-Friendly Products Fit Keto, Paleo Trends

Paleo and ketogenic (keto) diets are the hot ticket in 2021, both lending themselves to the potential of a fresh start to the new year....
January 20, 2021

Walnuts Enhance Dairy, Dairy Alternative Products with Texture, Flavor, Omega-3s

Walnuts are a versatile tree nut that plays multiple roles in dairy and dairy alternative products. Walnuts can play a starring role in walnut milk,...
December 22, 2020

Walnut Entrées Perfect for Plant-Based, Convenience Demands

Looking forward to 2021, there’s a plant-based revolution that’s due to make walnuts a prime ingredient for entrées that are both convenient and protein driven....
December 16, 2020

Plant-Forward Holiday Recipes To-Go

While offering a diverse menu can be a challenge year-round, the holidays especially can pose a unique challenge to those trying to cook for a...
December 10, 2020

Clean Labels, Plant-Based Ingredients Top 2021 Trend Outlook

2021 trend reports are coming in, and Innova Market Insights has named clean label and transparency in its Top Ten Trends for 2021. ADM Investor...
November 19, 2020

Chefs Battle It Out

And the winner is…Chef Jason Heiselman! October 28 marked the long-awaited Walnuts@Work Live. And many of you tuned in. The virtual event featured a final...
November 7, 2020

Packaged Walnuts, Trail Mixes Make Grab-and-Go Snacking Even Tastier

Grab-and-go sales are up! Convenience is a factor yet again, and packaged walnuts and trail mixes are a handy, delicious and nutritious choice for a...
October 27, 2020

All-Day Snacking Trend Positions Walnuts as Go-To Nut

Americans are forgoing three square meals a day, opting for full-force snackification, a term that perhaps unsurprisingly was coined by consumers themselves. Walnuts are a...
October 20, 2020

The Time-Honored Tradition of Walnuts in Artisan Breads

Walnuts are a traditional staple in artisan and sweet loaf breads, and now more than ever, consumers are seeking comfort through baked goods with wholesome...
October 7, 2020

How to Enjoy a Bountiful Harvest Season This Fall

Summer heat is giving way to light breezes, and lush greens are fading to golds and reds. Fall has arrived, and with it, harvest! Harvesting...
September 25, 2020

Chef Q&A: Chef Ivy Stark

Well known in New York for her Mexican cuisine, Chef Ivy Stark is also earning a name for herself with her plant-based dishes. At both...
September 18, 2020

A Novel Approach to Mitigate Weight Regain

The idea of personal nutrition continues to evolve. A new human trial study published in Gastroenterology looked at fecal microbiota transplantation as a novel approach...
September 17, 2020

Walnuts a Delicious Source of Plant Protein

Plant protein continues to grow in popularity according to the 2020 International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food & Health Survey. More than a quarter of...
September 1, 2020

Walnuts as Versatile Ingredient Bolster All-Day Breakfast Trend

The atmosphere in which people eat, the time of day people eat and the ingredients that they seek are constantly evolving, and while all-day snacking...
August 31, 2020

Products Geared Towards Kids Creates Better-for-You Options

Ask any parent: shopping with kids versus without is a completely different supermarket experience. Packaging and storytelling with characters, bright colors and magical words are...
August 31, 2020

Top 5 Made-With-Walnuts Products in COVID Times

At the beginning of every year, experts make their predictions about new products and trends that they foresee taking off in the near future. But...
August 21, 2020

Chef Q&A: Chef Kurt Kwiatkowski

As the Corporate Chef of Culinary Services at Michigan State University, Chef Kurt is responsible for all on-campus dining operations, feeding tens of thousands of...
July 24, 2020

Digest the Latest on Gut Health and Walnuts

More consumers are seeking foods that help manage risk factors and provide digestive health benefits, with 60-70 million people affected by digestive diseases. Good gut...
July 23, 2020

Global Cuisine’s Influence on Made with Walnut Products

Thanks to travel, technology and innovation, the world is getting smaller and packaged ethnic food categories are more readily accessible than ever before. Global cuisine...
July 9, 2020

Trend Report: Walnuts Pair Perfectly with Savory, Salty, Sweet and Spicy Foods

In the nut world, walnuts have a unique ability to pair with a variety of flavors, from savory to salty to sweet to spicy. How?...
June 30, 2020

Crunching Our Way Through New Walnut Bars

Food bars that are functional, provide all-day snacking and contain plant-based ingredients are trending with consumers. So why not grab a bar with an ingredient...
June 26, 2020

Chef Q&A: Tamra Scroggins

After more than ten years leading the culinary team at Sizzler USA, Tamra Scroggins now joins us as the Director of Culinary at Daily Grill....
June 17, 2020

Celebrating Walnuts in Candy During National Candy Month

June is National Candy Month! According to the National Confectioners Association (NCA), this is the month to celebrate chocolate, candy, gum and mints, along with...
June 1, 2020

Feel Full, Physically and Mentally, with Walnuts

Many of us understand, or may have experienced, being “hangry” – that is, the anger or irritability associated with feeling hungry. What’s interesting is that...
May 18, 2020

Classic Pairing of Bananas, Walnuts Thrives Through Evolution

Who doesn’t love a good banana bread with crunchy walnuts? Timeless foods such as banana bread provide comfort in staying the same. However, there’s an...
May 6, 2020

5 Reasons Food & Beverage Manufacturers Should Use California Walnuts

Why California Walnuts? A white paper from the California Walnut Commission For thousands of years, walnuts have possessed many unique qualities. Today, those distinct attributes...
April 24, 2020

Versatility of Walnut Butters Shines in Nut Butter Popularity

WB&J sandwich, anyone? No matter how you spread it, walnut butter is a creamy and tasty food. It offers versatility in a market trending toward...
April 8, 2020

Made with Walnuts Snacks Take a Bite Out of Consumer Cravings

Sensory Appeal According to the American Psychological Association, our taste buds are chemical sensors that tire quickly. The first few bites of food taste better...
March 19, 2020

Walnuts Provide Flavor, Texture to Plant-Based Foods, Beverages

Plant-based food and beverages are booming and show no signs of slowing. Product development from food and beverage manufacturers has been rapid, and consumers in...
March 11, 2020

Myth Conception: Plant-Forward Eating and Male Fertility

The key to a healthy pregnancy starts before conception, as aspiring mothers are becoming increasingly aware of how diet and lifestyle choices may influence their...
March 4, 2020

A Snacking Win for Women: Walnuts

For women who want an edge on wellness, eating the right foods can be simple, especially when you choose nutrient dense choices, like walnuts. Published...
February 28, 2020

Embrace American Heart Month with These Made with Walnuts Foods

February is a special month to celebrate loving each other — and ourselves. It’s American Heart Month, and walnuts fit wonderfully with heart-healthy diets. Walnuts...
February 24, 2020

New Product Outlook 2020

Walnuts are bursting into the new decade full steam ahead, no longer restricted to just the bakery aisle. They feature a variety of functional benefits,...
February 24, 2020

Chef Q&A: Venecia Willis

This issue’s featured chef is Venecia Willis, Sr. Culinary Operations Manager for Protein Bar & Kitchen. Before joining Protein Bar in November of 2017, Chef...
February 10, 2020

Walnuts Cited as ‘Superfood’ Complement to 2020 Diet Trends

Each new year brings a new set of trends, especially in the world of nutrition and dieting. And, 2020 is no different. Adapting a plant-forward...
January 24, 2020

Private Label Goes Mainstream

Not too long ago, private label foods and beverages were simply known as inexpensive imitations of everyone’s favorite branded products. My how times have changed....
January 9, 2020

Trend Report: Food Bars Continue Healthy Growth as Snack, Meal Replacement

The food bar category continues to show impressive growth, especially when you look at specific segments, such as breakfast/cereal and health/nutrition. In these segments, consumers...
January 9, 2020

Cereal Companies Include Walnuts to Boost ‘Health Halo’

Walnuts are magically delicious and more and more cereal, granola and oatmeal makers are adding better-for-you ingredients to get consumers’ days off to a healthy...
December 19, 2019

Walnuts Gain Popularity in Dairy and Dairy-Free Products

The dairy shelf at supermarkets has undergone a bit of a transformation in the last 10 years. The yogurt category has risen, and fractured into...
December 18, 2019

Popular Flavor Pairings with Walnuts

Grabbing a handful of walnuts is a heart-healthy* way to indulge in nutritional benefits without the guilt. After all, just one ounce of walnuts provides...
December 9, 2019

California Walnuts Show Their Savory and Sweet Side at New Products Conference

The 37th annual New Products Conference was an exciting, three-day event, filled with innovations, trends and strategy discussions about the future of food. California Walnuts...
November 4, 2019

New Ways to Snack with Walnuts

More than half of Americans snack daily, and snacking is actually the most popular way to eat walnuts.1,2 Simply grabbing a handful, raw or toasted,...
October 18, 2019

Camp Walnut 2019 Recap

A select group of industry chefs and foodservice media members were invited to join us at the beginning of the month for the 2019 California...
October 16, 2019

What’s On The Supermarket Shelf? Going Wal-nuts for Halloween

The time-honored tradition of knocking on doors for candy provides more treats than tricks these days, and parents get just as much fun out of...
October 15, 2019

Healthy Indulgence, Snacking on Display at IBIE 2019

The largest baking industry show in the United States recently took place in Las Vegas, and the California Walnut Commission was on hand to promote...
September 20, 2019

What’s on the Supermarket Shelf?

Welcome to our new blog where we’ll be detailing our favorite products on supermarket shelves that are made with walnuts! Each month, we’ll feature food...
August 28, 2019

Chef Q&A: Eric Ernest

Meet Chef Eric Ernest, Executive Chef and Associate Director of USC Hospitality and the driving force behind its culinary vision and strategy. Prior to entering...
August 28, 2019

Flavor Experience 2019

 We just concluded another exciting year at the Flavor Experience conference in Newport Beach, CA with California Walnuts as a Pinnacle Sponsor. This unique...
June 20, 2019

Walnuts at the Tipping Point in Foodservice: Azar Launches Walnut Crumbles at NRA

New product alert! We are excited to partner with Azar Nuts to debut a brand-new plant-based culinary product, its nature Walnut Crumbles! Launched in Chicago...
April 15, 2019

The Future of Product Development on Display at Natural Products Expo West

Natural Product Expo West, the largest natural and organic products event in the world, hosted 86,000 people from 136 countries last month. They all came...
March 25, 2019

Exploring Walnuts & Mental Health

More and more, consumers are looking for foods beneficial to overall wellness, including both body and mind.1 This comes at a time when the CDC...
March 20, 2019

Dramatic Changes in the Eating Habits of American Millennials

According to the Department of Agriculture, in 2016, for the first time, Americans spent more of their food budget (50.2%) eating out than at home....
January 31, 2019

Good Fats are Back!

January will always mean the start of New Year’s resolutions, the most popular of which are losing weight and eating healthier. While this may pose...
January 31, 2019

Chef Q&A: Grant Morgan

Meet Chef Grant. As the Director of F&B for Velvet Taco, he is overseeing the aggressive expansion from 9 open restaurants to 40 over the...
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