More than 80 percent of the pine nuts eaten in American are harvested from the Korean pine,  (Pinus koraiensis) a native tree in eastern Asia.  it is the most widely traded pine nut in international commerce.

Knowing this made the two-hour task of harvesting a half-cup of seeds from California’s native Gray pine trees (Pinus sabiniana) seem a bit less tedious, and the garden fresh basil and thyme pesto will taste all the better for having made the effort.

~T.