Growing

Cashews grow best in tropical areas with nutrient rich soil and warm climates. The cashew trees often have short irregularly shaped trunks, long branches, smooth leaves and produce small pale green flowers that develop into apples with the cashew growing on the outside. When the cashew apples have ripened they become yellow and reddish in hue impart a sweet aroma they are ready to harvest.

Harvesting

When the cashew apples get ripe enough they fall off the tree and onto the ground. The cashew is covered with a shell containing a potent skin irritant and needs to be thoroughly cleaned and dried before consuming.

Shelling

After the cashews have been cleaned they are ready to be steamed. Steaming the nuts softens the shell surrounding the nut and helps loosen the skin before peeling. When all the cashews have been peeled they are sent to be sorted by size and color.