A Korean Airlines executive (who has since resigned) made global headlines when she forced a plane to return to the gate after her outrage over being served macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a plate. Macadamia nut growers could not be happier:

• Sales of macadamia nuts got a substantial boost after the incident made headlines.
• Demand was driven, in part, by Koreans who before the outburst weren’t widely aware of macadamias.
• Prices for the nut have risen 10% this year.
• The Australian Macadamia Society says that macadamia sales used to make up 5% of total nut sales. They are now responsible for 50%.
• In Korea one retailer reports that sales have increased 149% in a week.

Read more about why this is just the beginning for the humble macadamia nut at the source links below.

Source: Fraser Coast Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal