In 1929, my grandfather, Poppy Sol, started The Newark Nut Company in Newark, NJ.  My dad and uncle grew up in the business in the 1950s and 1960s, and my cousin David and I grew up in the business in the 1980s and 1990s.  We survived the Great Depression, Poppy Sol going off to WWII, our warehouse burning down, and our store being bulldozed twice.  Otherwise, it was business as usual!

Until 1999… .  The Internet was really taking off and, as I was sitting in my freshman dorm, I wondered if people would actually be willing to buy nuts online.  I figured it was worth a shot!  But what should I name the site?  NewarkNutCompany.com was just too long to type in.  I put together a list (including names like eNuts.com and NutsDirect.com), but unfortunately all of them were taken.  Hmmm… .  I used America Online back then, so I got the idea for Nuts Online.  Voila! NutsOnline.com was available.

We get a lot of questions about the best way to store our nuts, and rightfully so! Nuts can go stale or rancid fairly quickly, especially during the summer months when the heat and humidity can really get to them. Luckily, storing your nuts in a way that keeps them fresh and delicious is super simple!

First of all, no matter what kind of nuts you have on hand, it’s important to keep them in an airtight bag or container at all times. Our resealable NutsOnline product pouches do the trick, most of the time. However, if they get a tear or hole in them, it’s best to transfer the nuts to a glass or plastic container with a tightly fitting lid.

You can store roasted nuts and nuts in the shell in a cool, dry place, such as your kitchen pantry, for one to three months. Make sure you keep them tucked away when you’re not eating them! Sunlight can really speed up the spoiling process.

Both roasted and raw nuts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six months. In fact, this is the storage method we recommend for our raw nuts. Because they have excess oils, they tend to spoil more quickly than their roasted and in-shell counterparts if they’re exposed to warm air.

Finally, if you want to keep your nuts on hand for longer than six months, you can freeze them for up to a year. Though they will lose some freshness, they will not go rancid in the freezer. To keep the nuts from growing stale or freezer burned, it’s best to store them in a vacuum-sealed bag and use them immediately after removing them from the freezer. Re-freezing nuts after thawing them decreases their freshness.

How do you store nuts to keep them fresh and delicious? Got any tricks or secrets? We’d love to hear all about them!

As you may know, NutsOnline is a huge supporter of the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minnesota. Through your amazingly generous contributions, we’ve shipped more than 2,700 pounds of nuts to this organization. The nuts in these care packages are used by the professionals at the center as treats for the resident bears, as well as for the radio-collared wild bears that the center monitors.

We received a very special letter via Facebook from a first-grade teacher at Andover Elementary School in Andover, Minnesota, that we’d love to share with all our nutty readers. Dana Coleman’s class has been learning about the black bears at the North American Bear Center throughout the year. At the end of the school year, the class donated $872 to the center. They earned the money by participating in a Read-a-Thon fundraiser throughout the year. From the donation, the children requested that $800 go toward nuts for the bears. The rest of the money will be used to purchase grapes for the animals.

We’d like to congratulate this wonderful bunch of first-graders on a successful year and a spectacular fundraiser! We’re so pleased that we have the privilege to join hands with you and send the bears some of their favorite nutty treats. We’re honored to be a part of this special project!

Looking for a quick snack to munch at your desk or in the car? We think sunflower seeds are a fine choice! Sunflower seeds are packed with healthful benefits, and a handful will quell your hunger without killing your appetite.

Sunflower seeds are loaded with vitamin E, which is your body’s primary fat-soluble antioxidant. They are also an excellent source of magnesium and selenium, and the phytosterols in the seeds have been shown to lower cholesterol in some cases.

We love to munch on roasted sunflower seeds in the shell and homestyle sunflower seeds when we’re out on a walk or at a picnic. We also really enjoy roasted, shelled sunflower seeds and honey roasted sunflower seeds when we’re on the go. Other popular options include organic tamari roasted sunflower seeds, sprouted sunflower seeds, ranch sunflower seeds and sweet chocolate covered sunflower seeds.

What are some of your favorite ways to eat sunflower seeds? Though we may find ourselves sprinkling them on salads and mixing them in ice cream from time-to-time, we think the best way to enjoy their yummy goodness is by the handful!

We know we have a lot of customers who prefer to eat their treats raw. Of course, we offer a solid variety of raw seeds, nuts and dried fruit that are deliciously easy to munch. However, if you crave something that’s just a bit more hearty, why not give raw granola a try?

Raw granola is similar to the crunchy, oat-laden cereal we all know and love, except that it’s made in a food dehydrator instead of baked in an oven. The result is a crisp, slightly sticky concoction that’s packed with the good stuff. If you’re having trouble feeling satisfied on your raw food diet, raw granola can be a great way to pack in some filling fare without straying from your plan.

Raw granola is typically made of two categories of products: binders and fillers. Binding ingredients are items that help the ingredients stick together. They include items like raw apples, juice, agave nectar, raw honey, soaked chia seeds and raw almond butter. Fillers include raw seeds, nuts and dried fruit.

Typically, you grind up your filler ingredients in a food processor (first soaking the nuts and seeds, if desired), then combine them with the binding ingredients, along with flavorings like cinnamon and vanilla. Spread the mixture in a lined food dehydrator tray and let it go for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the desired crispness. If you dehydrate the nuts and seeds beforehand, the finished product will require less time.

Just like baked granola, raw granola can be customized to suit your tastes. Experiment with different binding agents and fillers until you create a flavor sensation that’s just right. Not sure where to start? We recommend this awesome recipe from Gone Raw, as well as this wisdom-filled article from Suite 101. They’ll have you cooking up a batch of this munchtastic treat in no time!

Peanut-butter sandwiches are one of the most popular lunchtime staples around, and we look for any chance to jazz up our favorite spread and bread. Well, today’s National Fluffernutter Day, which gives us the perfect opportunity to turn our on-the-go standard fare into something truly decadent.

Traditionally, a fluffernutter starts with two slices of soft bread. One side is spread with peanut butter and the other is smothered in marshmallow, then the two slices are sandwiched together to make a gooey, sweet treat.

We like to make our fluffernutter sandwiches with organic smooth peanut butter or (our favorite) organic crunchy peanut butter. The rich peanut flavor, without additives like sugar or salt, really melds nicely with the sweetness of the marshmallow. However, if you prefer something a bit more dressed up, we have plenty of options for ya!

Start off with a smear of one of our specialty flavored peanut butters. You can’t go wrong with varieties like banana peanut butter, caramel peanut butter and organic dark chocolate peanut butter.

If you like a bit of fruit with your fluff, try adding a layer of strawberry jelly between the peanut butter and marshmallow. Pumpkin butter and apple butter add a delightful hint of spice to the sandwich that’s perfect for fall.

Punching up your sandwich with sweets may seem a bit over the top, but it’s a delicious once-in-awhile treat! Sprinkle a layer of chocolate covered sunflower seeds, marshmallow bits or assorted chocolate chips to create a special-occasion sandwich that can’t be beat!

Do you include any special ingredients in your fluffernutter creation?

According to the National Health Information Center, October is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month. We love taking this time to better educate ourselves and other about celiac disease and honor some of our most awesome customers.

Ensuring that our gluten-free products are safe for those with celiac disease to consume is of utmost importance to us. When we first decided to sell trusted and affordable gluten-free products, we first analyzed the ingredients lists of all the naturally gluten-free items we offer and we made sure that our gluten-free suppliers were following non-contamination standards in their facilities. We segregated our gluten-free production line and started randomly testing gluten-free treats to make sure they weren’t contaminated at any point. Finally, we sought and received the Gluten-Free Certification Organization’s stamp of approval.

It’s easy to spot certified gluten-free products on NutsOnline.com. Simply look for the GF logo in the bottom right corner of the item’s description box. You can also get direct access to all of our certified gluten-free products by visiting the gluten-free department of our website.

We offer yummy gluten-free fare for cooking, baking and snacking, and we’re proud of it! Some of our top-selling gluten-free products include chia seeds, roasted pistachios, organic quinoa, and dried strawberries. We also have a wide selection of baking supplies, including gluten-free flour that can be difficult to find in traditional grocery stores.

We guarantee that our certified gluten-free products and safe and delicious! What are some of your favorite gluten-free items from NutsOnline?

Many medical experts have found that chia seeds have quite a few benefits, including aiding weight loss, reducing blood pressure and controlling blood sugar. They also promote hydration and strong performance in athletes, and many runners and hikers swear by their benefits.

Because chia seeds can absorb up to 10 times their weight in liquid, they can really boost your hydration. Making a chia gel and adding it to juice, water, smoothies and oatmeal can help athletes maintain their overall endurance.

Some athletes like to pump up with chia before their exercise routine, and others save it for their end-of-workout treat. It’s important to find the timing that works for you. If you tend to get dehydrated during your workout, then chia seeds could help restore your balance. If you feel sapped of energy afterward, chia might just be the pick-me-up you need.

There are a couple of different ways you can work chia seeds into your daily routine. For those who are pressed for time, we offer Organic Chia Energy Squares. Tailor-made for NutsOnline’s chia-crazy customers, these chewy squares are packed with raw ingredients like cashews, dates and coconut in addition to chia seeds.

Many people prefer to make a batch of chia gel and store it in the refrigerator as an easy addition to smoothies and other snacks. To do this, simply mix 2/3 cup of chia seeds with 4 cups of water in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine the seeds and water, then refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to allow the gel to form.

As we mentioned earlier, you can add a tablespoon or two of chia gel to your smoothie, juice or oatmeal. You can also make a refreshing treat called chia fresca by mixing the chia gel with water, citrus juice and sweetener.

What are some of your favorite ways to consume chia seeds? Do you ever use them as a supplement before or after your workout?

A hearty breakfast is key to living an active life, and it’s important to make sure you start your day off ready for action. In the mornings, we love to munch a big bowl of filling, nutritious granola.

A few months ago in The Nutty Scoop, we shared our favorite granola recipe. However, making the sweet, crunchy cereal is just part of whipping up this breakfast treat. You can customize each batch of granola by adding about 2 cups of your favorite nuts and dried fruit. We try to mix it up with each batch, and have come up with some pretty fantastic combinations. Here are our five favorite granola flavors, in no particular order:

1)      Turkish Delight: This combination of diced Turkish apricots and raw pistachios produces a rich, sweet cereal that’s perfect with tart plain yogurt and a dab of honey.

2)      Awesome Antioxidants: Organic cacao nibs and dried goji berries come together to make a not-too-sweet cereal that’s packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It’s delicious with cold milk, but even better on top of frozen yogurt. After all, who says frozen desserts aren’t for breakfast?

3)      Strawberry Shortcake: This granola tastes awfully similar to one of our favorite summer desserts. Add crunchy freeze-dried Simply Strawberries and sliced natural almonds to your granola for a delicious, simple blend that’ll please both kids and adults. Topping it with almond milk or vanilla soy milk makes it even more decadent.

4)      Banana Muffin: This combination tastes just like the breakfast classic, but with more heart-healthy nuts and whole grains. Sprinkle some unsweetened banana chips and walnut pieces into your granola, and top it with vanilla yogurt and a pinch of cinnamon. Perfect for autumn mornings!

5)      Tropical Twister: When we’re longing for paradise on blustery days, this granola really perks us up! Diced dried mango, diced dried pineapple and macadamia nut pieces carry us away to a more tropical state of mind. It’s really fantastic with coconut-flavored yogurt.

If you could make any granola flavor in the world, what would it be?

Today, we’re going to take the time to savor some smooth, sweet white chocolate treats. Why? It’s National White Chocolate Day, and by now you know that we’ll seize any opportunity to break into our store of sweets!

White chocolate, which is a mixture of cocoa butter, sugar and milk solids, isn’t true chocolate because it doesn’t contain chocolate liquor, but that doesn’t stop us from thoroughly enjoying it! It offers a nice break from ultra-rich milk and dark chocolate blends, and pairs really nicely with light, berry-based desserts as well as pumpkin-flavored treats that are so popular in autumn. In fact, one of our favorite treats to make for Thanksgiving is pumpkin cream cheese truffles, a delightfully rich and spicy dessert.

Of course, if you’re not up for a culinary adventure, we’ve got your back. NutsOnline offers a pretty fantastic assortment of white chocolate-drenched goodies, and we love to share!

Our decadent white chocolate almond bark is an old-fashioned favorite, with whole, crunchy almonds coated in silky, sweet white chocolate. Out white chocolate toffee cashews are uniquely buttery and rich. If you crave a little something different, our white chocolate gummy bears offer a sophisticated twist on a childhood favorite.

If you crave something that’s delightfully sweet and just a bit healthy, look no further than our white chocolate chip almonds, cashews and cacao nibs. This sprouted nut mix, tossed with agave and cacao butter, makes for a delicious treat that’s loaded with the live enzymes and nutrients that make nuts so delightfully good for you. Looking to save your sweet tooth? Sip on some of our white chocolate coffee, which has a smooth, distinctive white chocolate flavor.

What are some of your favorite white chocolate nibbles?