Oldest tree food known to man, dating back to 7000 B.C.  Most trees are very productive for 30-50 years but its not unusual to see one at 100 years.

The English Walnut is really from Persia.  The merchant marines that transported the nuts around the world were English.  The misnomer stuck.

The Black Walnut is native to the United States though virtually all commercial walnuts are the English variety.  Though high in flavor they have a hard shell and poor hulling characteristics.  Black walnut trees are used for wood & veneer... furniture, gun stocks, etc.  In California they serve as excellent root stock for the 30+ English varieties.  Black walnuts are also deficient in beneficial omega-5 fatty acids.

Joseph Sexton planted the first commercial walnut orchard in California in 1867 near Goleta, in Santa Barbara County.

99% of U.S. walnut production is from California, primarily the San Joaquin and Sacramento valley areas.  40% are shipped to Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy and Israel.  Competitive producers are in China, Turkey, India, France, Italy and Chile.