Things have changed in the world of pine nuts. The price of shelled pine nuts has tripled over the last three years. Like everything else, people go to the internet to find out what is going on or the best deal on pricing. The pine nut price hike has hit two markets really hard. One is the small scale food server, the other is the pet market. Food service is already feeling the pinch from the decline in disposable income. People are not eating out the way they did 3 years ago. Rather than dig deep and shell out $35.00 lb for food service pine nuts, cheffs are subsituting other less expensive nuts in their dishes. Pet owners, on the other hand are going the extra buck. Owners of thick billed birds, like parrots and mccaws will scrimp to give their birds the best they can find. A few of the bird food companies has boycotted imported pine nut products entirely. While pet owners are seeking out alternative sources for pine nuts for their pets, including ebay. Some people have resorted to gathering their own, even in the middle of winter. Others are finally discovering how wonderful in shell American pine are roasted and nibbled like sunflowers. It is not a bad thing, as eating wild American Pine Nuts helps promote forest conservation in the southwestern desert. We now have shelled American Fresh Great Basin Jumbo pinon Pine Nuts .