Abstract

Acorns have long played a major role in many cultures around the world. They are still a commercial crop in some areas. The commercial harvest in Korea (where 1+ million liters are harvested each year) provides prepared acorn starch and flour that reach the American market. Sadly, research on acorns has been neglected. They make an excellent food for people, livestock, domestic fowl, and wildlife. Acorns are relatively easy to collect, store well, and can be processed by hand or machine. In addition to the nutritious nut and meal, acorns yield an oil comparable in quality and flavor with olive oil. There is growing evidence they can be valuable for medicinal uses as well. Pharmacological effects reported for oaks include: antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, anti-obesity, anticancer, and neurodegenerative protection. The existing market can be greatly expanded and will provide new income for rural people. Better education and support can also make these acorn foods available in areas where food supplies are short or critical. A serious effort to identify and propagate the best oak acorn cultivars for these products is long overdue.