Walnut production and marketing in Portugal and in the world context

Abstract

The production of Walnut trees (Juglans regia L) looking the fruit harvesting has been, lately in Portugal, an interesting opportunity for several agricultural entrepreneurs. We think that this phenomenon occurs mainly due to the awareness of market tendencies. These are, in turn, essentially associated with the walnuts´ organoleptic characteristics, which, as a component of the human diet, has been highly recognized in recent years, both due to the increase in the analysis capacity of the walnuts´ constituents, as well as the knowledge of the effects they can have on consumer’s health. Under this perspective, the great diversity of uses of its products contributes to the culture increasing, since in addition to human food, it is also used in the pharmaceutical industry, in the manufacture of dyes, liquors and even in the processed wood industry.

The present study is based in the analysis of the officially available data, in order to develop information related to the main elements that characterize the productive and commercial aspects of the walnut, in the world and national panorama, identifying trends and trying to contribute to understand de market flows.