National Almond Day
National Almond Day is a holiday that’s designed to celebrate the healthy goodness of almonds and is celebrated on February 16th each year. Why do almonds get their holiday? Because they’re one of the healthier snacks available, and just about everyone could benefit from adding some to their diet. It doesn’t matter if you eat them whole, toss them into a salad, or add them to your favorite dessert; these nuts are ready to bring some much-needed nutrition to the table.
The History Of Almonds
Although we were unsuccessful in determining the origins of National Almond Day, we were able to ascertain where almonds came from and how they made it to the U.S. The almond tree is a deciduous tree that’s native to Iran and other countries in the Middle East, and it’s a tree that grows up to 33 feet high.
During ancient times, it was spread into Northern Africa and Southern Europe along the shores of the Mediterranean. From those points, it would continue to be spread by traders all over the world. Today, 80% of the world’s almond supply comes from the U.S.
Most of that production is from California, which has over a million acres of almond trees that produce a yield of over 2.25 billion pounds of shelled almonds. Most of the pollination needed for these trees is done by rented commercial bees that are trucked from all parts of the United States to California specifically for the almond trees. It’s been estimated that pollination of Californian almonds requires half the population of the U.S. bee population.
Nutty Facts About Almonds
Almonds are not only a delicious superfood that has its own holiday, but they’re also fascinating in their own right. What makes them so fascinating? Let’s take a look at some fun facts about these nuts and the trees that they grow on.
- Almonds belong to the Rose Family.
- Almonds need hot weather and cool winters to properly grow.
- Almonds slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream.
- Hundreds of published research papers tout the health effects of almonds.
- Almonds supply 6 grams of protein per ounce.
- Almonds supply 12 different vitamins and minerals.
- There are over 30 different almond varieties.
- Almonds are rich in Vitamin E and Magnesium.
Some Fantastic Recipes Almonds Are Used In
Below is a list of some of the recipes that feature almonds as their main ingredient. One of those might be perfect for making on National Almond Day.
Observing National Almond Day
Anyone who wants to celebrate National Almond Day merely has to spend the day enjoying almonds in any way they want to enjoy them. This can include enjoying almonds straight from the bag or the can or adding them to salads or desserts. Almond lovers can also use the hashtag #NationalAlmondDay on Twitter or other social media accounts to let everyone know they’re adding this healthy snack to their diet.
