Tree Nuts

 

Broadcast: May 6, 2003
By Mario Ritter

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
Nuts that grow on trees are an important part of the diet in many cultures. They also provide an important export product for many nations.
The United¹ States is the world's largest exporter of tree nuts. About forty-three percent of tree nuts grown in America are exported. The United States grows more than ten percent of the world's tree nut supply.
The world's most popular tree nut is the almond. The United States is expected to grow over five-hundred-thousand metric² tons of almonds1 this year. The second largest grower, Spain, is expected to produce about one-fifth of that amount.
Next in popularity³ is the walnut2. The two largest producers of this crop are the United States and China. China does not export much of its production. This year the United States will export about one-third of the walnuts⁴ it grows.
Another major tree nut in the export market is the filbert3, or hazelnut4. Turkey is by far the biggest producer of this nut, followed by Italy and Spain. Other economically important tree nuts include brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts⁵, pistachios5 and kola nuts. Many of these nuts need warm, wet climates to grow. Brazil nuts and cashews, for example, are major exports for countries with tropical⁶ climates.
Not surprisingly, Brazil is the largest producer of Brazil nuts. India is by far the largest producer of cashews. Vietnam⁷ and Brazil are also large exporters.
Tree nuts are excellent products for export. They are easily stored. They can also be processed in the country that grows them.
Some tree nuts, though, require extra processing. Cashews are a good example. Cashews must be removed from their shell⁸ and cooked. Without processing, cashews are poisonous. They can cause severe⁹ reactions if eaten or even touched.
Exporting processed cashews creates jobs where the nuts are grown. It also adds to the export value of the product. For example, the World Bank helped farmers in Brazil's Rio Grande do Norte area develop a processing center for cashews. This project began in the late nineteen-eighties. Today, the center employs twenty-five local people. It permits¹⁰ farmers to grow and market good quality cashews.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter.

1. almond [5B:mEnd] n. [植]杏树, 杏仁, 杏仁壮物
2. walnut [5wC:lnEt] n. 胡桃, 胡桃木
3. filbert [5fIlbEt] n. [植]榛树, 榛子
4. hazelnut n. 榛实
5. pistachio [pIs5tB:FIEu] n. [植]阿月浑子树, 阿月浑子果实, 淡黄绿色

1 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

2 metric   

adj.公制的，米制的，十进制的；n.度量标准，公制，米制，十进制

参考例句：

• In the metric system,measurements are made in metres and liters.在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。
• The metric system is fit to all of the world. 公制适用于全世界。

3 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

4 walnuts   

胡桃（树）( walnut的名词复数 )； 胡桃木

参考例句：

• Are there walnuts in this sauce? 这沙司里面有核桃吗？
• We ate eggs and bacon, pickled walnuts and cheese. 我们吃鸡蛋，火腿，腌胡桃仁和干酪。

5 chestnuts   

n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马

参考例句：

• A man in the street was selling bags of hot chestnuts. 街上有个男人在卖一包包热栗子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Talk of chestnuts loosened the tongue of this inarticulate young man. 因为栗子，正苦无话可说的年青人，得到同情他的人了。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

6 tropical   

adj.热带的，热带的，炎热的

参考例句：

• You must grow these tropical flowers in a glasshouse.你必须把这些热带花卉种在温室里。
• This disease is widespread in tropical areas.这种疾病在热带地区蔓延很广。

7 Vietnam   

n.越南

参考例句：

• Vietnam is suffering from food shortage.越南正遭受食物短缺之苦。
• Laos is on the west of Vietnam.老挝在越南西面。

8 shell   

n.贝壳，壳，外形；v.去壳，脱落；n.[计算机] DOS命令:安装备用的COMMAND.COM文件，并改变环境尺寸

参考例句：

• Please shell some peanuts for the cake.请为做点心剥点胡花生。
• This kind of beetles have hard shell.这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。

9 severe   

adj.严格的，凶猛的，严肃的，严重的，严厉的，朴素的

参考例句：

• The severe storm did for most of the crops.猛烈的暴风雨毁掉了大部分庄稼。
• The pace was too severe to be kept up for long.跟上这步伐太难了，无法持久。

10 permits   

许可( permit的名词复数 )； 许可证； 执照

参考例句：

• The building permits are granted by the City Building Department. 建筑许可证由城建局签发。
• This task permits (of) no delay. 这项任务不允许有任何耽搁。