Gevuina nut (Gevuina avellana,Proteaceae), a cool climate alternative to macadamia

World horticultural export markets are growing rapidly. The affluent societies of developed countries are increasingly interested in novel foods, particularly if they have added health value. Nut exports in general are growing rapidly as a convenient snack, nutritious health food, and to be added to confectionery or processed into various subproducts. Gevuina is a little known proteaceous tree nut from southern Chile and Argentina. It is similar in quality to the nut with the fastest export growth: macadamia. Unlike the subtropical macadamia, gevuina prospers in cooler oceanic climates. Attempts are under way to develop gevuina commercially in Chile and New Zealand. We review the present knowledge on gevuina and discuss its limitations and prospects for development. A considerable amount of research is still needed to develop gevuina commercially but it could have a promising future. One of the main limitations to gevuina propagation (infection withPhytophthora,) has been identified.