Walnut trade begins with species, product form, variety or type and grade—not a generic nut label. English or Persian walnuts, black walnuts, in-shell nuts, whole kernels, halves, pieces and processed forms are not automatically comparable. Comparable offers require species, product form, variety or type, grade and inspection basis, kernel color, size or piece class, whole-versus-broken composition, shelling yield, moisture and condition, defect tolerances, treatment, crop year, pack, origin, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and information vintage.
The figures below are USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates for the 2025 California and United States English walnut crop, published in May 2026. They are dated crop measures—not global production, a current physical offer or a live delivered price; Atlas does not present the annual crop value or average grower return as a current lot price.
An in-shell lot includes shell cleanliness, brightness, integrity and size as well as internal kernel condition. Shelled walnut grades classify kernel portions, color and size, while halves, pieces, meal, paste and oil add different composition, treatment, usable-yield and end-use requirements. Atlas keeps species, product form, variety or type, grade, color, size and intended use explicit before comparing lots or evidence.
USDA in-shell standards cited here apply to English or Persian walnuts, Juglans regia, and do not apply to black walnuts. In-shell grades address dryness, shell cleanliness and brightness, splits, broken or perforated shells, adhering hulls, kernel color, decay, rancidity, mold, shriveling and insect damage. Shelled grades separately require kernel portions to be well dried and clean, with color and size specified and tolerances for shell, foreign material, defects and damage. A physical record preserves the exact standard, species, variety or type, grade, kernel color, size or piece class, shelling yield, moisture, crop year, treatment, packaging, storage and inspection point.
USDA NASS estimated 809,000 tons in-shell equivalent of utilized United States English walnut production from 380,000 bearing acres in 2025. Of that volume, 132,000 tons in-shell equivalent were sold in shell, while 677,000 tons in-shell equivalent were sold shelled and yielded 293,000 tons of kernel meat. Those dated California and national aggregates do not specify the species, variety, grade, color, size, piece class, treatment, pack or delivery terms required for a comparable physical price.
No. The USDA in-shell standards cited here apply to English or Persian walnuts, Juglans regia, and explicitly do not apply to black walnuts. Species must stay attached to the lot.
No. In-shell grades cover shell and internal-kernel condition, while shelled grades classify kernel portions, color, size, shell or foreign material and other defects.
It is USDA NASS's estimate of utilized United States English walnut production on an in-shell-equivalent basis for the 2025 crop year. It is a dated national crop measure, not global production and not a current physical price.
Species, product form, variety or type, grade and inspection basis, kernel color, size or piece class, whole-versus-broken composition, shelling yield, moisture and condition, defect tolerances, treatment, crop year, packaging and net weight, origin, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.
Figures retain their source, period and review date. Corroboration is not promoted to primary evidence.