13 replies to this topic

[Barbara]

I don't have any pictures, but today I was looking for pine nuts (to make pesto) which were not from China. I went to Yes! Gourmet on Columbia Road and found a bag that was supposedly in support of American Farm Trust (this is an approximation of the real name). At $14.99 for 5.5 ounces (!), I thought they were a tad bit expensive. I was right: on the back of the bag was "Product of China." I don't even want to know what's going on here. I passed on those and went across the street to the Metro Market and bought much, much cheaper pine nuts--origin unknown. The last non-Chinese pine nuts I bought were Spanish from Whole Paycheck at $23/lb.

[DonRocks]

I don't have any pictures, but today I was looking for pine nuts (to make pesto) which were not from China. I went to Yes! Gourmet on Columbia Road and found a bag that was supposedly in support of American Farm Trust (this is an approximation of the real name). At $14.99 for 5.5 ounces (!), I thought they were a tad bit expensive. I was right: on the back of the bag was "Product of China." I don't even want to know what's going on here. I passed on those and went across the street to the Metro Market and bought much, much cheaper pine nuts--origin unknown. The last non-Chinese pine nuts I bought were Spanish from Whole Paycheck at $23/lb.

Stop making a pesto yourself.

How long have pine nuts been this expensive?!

[deangold]

How long have pine nuts been this expensive?!

American pine uts I ahve seen are $30 or $40 a pound and terrible. We ahe stopped using pine nuts after TJ's, without any warning, changed from non Chinese to Chinese and we had a customer get a bad reaction. Hazelnuts and almonds make a great pesto!

[DonRocks]

I don't have any pictures, but today I was looking for pine nuts (to make pesto) which were not from China. I went to Yes! Gourmet on Columbia Road and found a bag that was supposedly in support of American Farm Trust (this is an approximation of the real name). At $14.99 for 5.5 ounces (!), I thought they were a tad bit expensive. I was right: on the back of the bag was "Product of China." I don't even want to know what's going on here. I passed on those and went across the street to the Metro Market and bought much, much cheaper pine nuts--origin unknown. The last non-Chinese pine nuts I bought were Spanish from Whole Paycheck at $23/lb.

Thanks Barbara and Dean - this absolutely merits its own topic (and a tweet).

[Barbara]

American pine uts I ahve seen are $30 or $40 a pound and terrible. We ahe stopped using pine nuts after TJ's, without any warning, changed from non Chinese to Chinese and we had a customer get a bad reaction. Hazelnuts and almonds make a great pesto!

We use pine nuts for many dishes in our house and I get some and then freeze them. So, they don't go bad and nothing is wasted. Those Spanish pine nuts at WF are quite wonderful--we just need to think of the cost as something similar to caviar. But there is no way I'm gonna pay that kind of $$$ for a Chinese product, eventhough we haven't suffered from that "metallic mouth" syndrome that seems to occur with some frequency with the Chinese product. I'm just upset that something that is supposed to support American farms has nothing to do with that.

[PollyG]

We use pine nuts for many dishes in our house and I get some and then freeze them. So, they don't go bad and nothing is wasted. Those Spanish pine nuts at WF are quite wonderful--we just need to think of the cost as something similar to caviar. But there is no way I'm gonna pay that kind of $$$ for a Chinese product, eventhough we haven't suffered from that "metallic mouth" syndrome that seems to occur with some frequency with the Chinese product. I'm just upset that something that is supposed to support American farms has nothing to do with that.

That does sound as if it merits a call/email first to the manufacturer, and then to the Federal Trade Commission if the manufacturer does not respond to your satisfaction. We have similar issues with dog food items --- front labels often proudly state that the company is a US company, but then there is small print on the back telling you that the chicken comes from China.

As a victim of TJ's pine nuts, I'll pay through the nose for Spanish ones next time. I don't use that many, and I do keep them in the freezer. 2 weeks of pine nut mouth was more than enough.

[Pat]

Thanks Barbara and Dean - this absolutely merits its own topic (and a tweet).

Previous discussions: In News and Media; and in this forum: [url="http://http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php?showtopic=225&st=400&p=191408&hl="pine%20nut%20mouth"&fromsearch=1&#entry191408"]here[/url], here, and [url="http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php?showtopic=2215&st=550&p=175682&hl="pine%20nut%20mouth"&fromsearch=1&#entry175682"]here[/url].

[Drive-by Critic]

I haven't found any at Whole Foods that are NOT from China, but we've had luck at The Italian Store and at the Bethesda Co-Op at the intersection of MacArthur and Seven Locks. I had pine nut mouth so I'm really careful to check the source of the pine nutes I buy.

[weezy]

I've found Spanish ones at the Meditteranean Bakery on Pickett Street in Alexandria. I'm careful to check the labels now, too. I haven't had pine nut mouth, but I don't want it.

[bookluvingbabe]

Saw spanish pine nuts at My Organic Market in Rockville yesterday. Gasped at the price though I don't remember what it was.

[bimbap]

We got Spanish pine nuts at the Whole Foods in Rockville this weekend for $25.99/lb.

[Pete]

On Saturday the H Mart in Merrifield was carrying pine nuts that said "Product of the USA". I can't remember the name, but I think they were $18 for 14 ounces. They were located near the registers on the right side just before you get to the produce section.

[Anna Blume]

This Old Thread on Trader Joe's pine nuts actually becomes more generalized quickly and might be a useful read. As for the high price, depending on what you're making, you usually buy fewer oz. of pine nuts than you might of similarly priced meat or cheese.

[BklynBoy]

I made caponata last weekend and needed some pine nuts. I found them for $12/lb in the refrigerated case at the Lebanese Gourmet Market in Mclean. I do not know the country of origin but they were very good. I suspect that other Middle-Eastern markets have similar quality and price