Factors affecting shelf life of South African macadamias

The South African macadamia industry has experienced significant growth in recent years. With larger volumes of kernel becoming available, there is a need to determine whether kernel can be held for extended periods at times when demand or prices are sub-optimal. The current study demonstrates that late season kernel has inherently shorter shelf life than kernel processed earlier in the season, and that broken kernel has significantly shorter shelf life than whole kernel. To avoid quality deterioration, the industry needs to consider reducing the temperatures currently used for storage, particularly during holding periods longer than six months. There is also evidence that the peroxide test may not be a suitable indicator of quality for kernel older than 18 months.