The nuts were once an important economic resource in North America, being sold on the streets of towns and cities, as they sometimes still are during the Christmas season (usually said to be "roasting on an open fire" because their smell is readily identifiable many blocks away). Chestnuts are edible raw or roasted, though typically preferred roasted. The American chestnut tree was also important to native Americans as it acted as a food source for both the native Americans and the Wildlife.[81]" Contributors to Wikimedia projects. "American chestnut - Wikipedia." 21 May. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_chestnut&oldid=1024300608.