The cashew tree belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. It is native to Brazil and South America. Raw cashew nuts are called unshelled nuts because they still have a hard outer shell. The shell contains an acid called anacardic acid which is harmful to people as it causes skin irritation.
From harvesting to getting to the table, cashew nuts go through a rigorous process to ensure that they are safe for consumption.
The cashews are dried after being separated from their shells in the sun to remove moisture for better preservation and longer storage. Once dry, the cashews are roasted on a fire and are ready for consumption. At this stage, the cashews can be salted, spiced, or seasoned in different ways to improve their taste.
All stages need to be followed carefully and be well supervised, ensuring high-quality standards of hygiene to ensure that the end product is safe and healthy for consumers.
Cashew Price in New Zealand
In 2022, cashew imports into Kuwait were worth approximately 18 million US Dollars. Although this was a decrease from the previous year, it was another high-value record.
The sharpest climb was from 2016 to 2017 when the import value rose from about 22 million US Dollars to around 28 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of cashews in New Zealand between 2013 and 2022.
Cashew Nut Price per kg in New Zealand
The price of one kilogram of raw cashew nuts in New Zealand ranges between US$ 6.55 to US$ 10.93 on the retail market. This is ZD 10.42 to NZD 17.38 per kilogram in New Zealand currency.
On the wholesale market, the price of cashew nuts ranges between US$ 4.58 and US$ 7.65 per kilogram. Although the prices can vary from time to time depending on the seller, the season, and the supply volume, these standard prices tend to remain throughout the seasons.
Pricing is also affected when packaging and branding are involved as a lot is invested in making good packing materials and branding that makes the cashews even more appealing.
Prices rise and drop at different times, but buying directly from farmers or in bulk volumes is always recommended if you are looking to have a good deal at an affordable price.
Cashews New Zealand
New Zealand imports various types of nuts including raw fresh cashew, dried cashew, shelled, and in-shell cashew nuts.
Raw cashew nuts imported into New Zealand are processed either manually or in factories. The cashews are neatly separated from their shells and then put out to dry until the moisture in the shells is 8 to 10%.
This can not be measured by just looking or touching them, a cashew moisture meter must be used to measure the temperature to ensure that it is accurate otherwise the cashew may spoil within a short period of storage.
Once dry and ready for storage, the cashew nuts are put separately in their different grades, depending on the size. Each grade of cashew nuts has a different price and normally gives consumers a variety to pick from based on their use.
Cashew nuts must be stored in very well-ventilated rooms to protect them from too much sunlight, or wetness that can affect the quality of the nuts.
Cashew Nuts New Zealand
Before packing and sealing, cashew nuts must be inspected for any impurities or damages to ensure that they meet the food standards for consumption. Testing of pesticides and any other harmful content is always done by government bodies before cashews are dispatched to the market.
The materials used must be well-sanitized and of high quality to avoid any internal or external damage. Cashew nuts need very high food standards as people’s lives and health are involved.