Walnut growers have a lot going for them, but face some difficult challenges. Ok, tune for a pop quiz: Which of the following best describes walnut growing in the new millennium? 1. Things look rosy. Growers are coming off a banner season. Despite arecord 1999 harvest, they were able to market the crop -- albeit at lower prices than they would like. And why shouldn't sales be high? Recent studies conclude that walnuts are super-good for your body. 2. The outlook is bleak. Per capita consumption hasdropped by 1/5 of a pound over the past decade. Mean-while, the Chinese have been planting huge numbers of trees, and when those begin to produce, a tidal wave of nuts will hit international markets.
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