Their Chestnut Business Is Growing Fast
Roger Smith has chestnuts for sale, but you better get your order in fast. Last year he sold more than 70,000 lbs. of Chinese chestnuts between late September and the first of November. Some are from his own trees planted about 15 years ago. Most are from the 60 other growers within a 150-mile radius of him who comprise Prairie Grove Chestnut Growers.
“Our major market consists of ethnic groups and stores in strong ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago, St. Louis, and Waterloo, Iowa,” says Smith. “About 99 percent of our customers are from China, South Korea and southeast Europe. They have a love affair with chestnuts and will bring their kids to our place and just stare at the trees.”
Smith started growing chestnuts when he learned how long it would take before he could harvest nuts off the black walnut trees he had planted. He went home and tore out about 100 walnut seedlings and started planting chestnuts. Chestnuts, he had learned, start producing nuts at about 5 years, increasing to peak production by 20 years and continuing at that or slightly higher for decades after.
“It takes about 10 years for a chestnut tree to be profitable,” says Smith. “Most trees planted in the past 20 years are Chinese chestnuts, but some of our growers have European chestnuts that are 40 to 50 years old.”
Smith notes that chestnut trees require more care than black walnuts and can be a challenge to keep alive and productive. Deer, squirrels and raccoons all love the trees and the nuts. This year he had to spray his trees to control Japanese beetles. Each fall the trees need to be pruned for optimum nut production.
Like other fruit and nut trees, production can vary considerably from year to year. The nuts fall over a period of 7 to 10 days. Harvest starts in mid to late September and runs through October.
“You have to wait until the chestnut falls from the tree,” explains Smith. “It is white in the burr and doesn’t turn color until 48 hours before it falls.”
Smith says most growers mow close to the ground prior to harvest and use the Nut Wizard to collect nuts (in Vol. 38, No. 5 and available from Amazon.com). Once all the nuts have fallen, they mow close again to break up burrs that might allow the chestnut weevil to overwinter.
“Growers deliver nuts every second or third day, as we only deal in fresh nuts,” says Smith. “As they come in, we sort by size and clean if necessary. Once they are in 25-lb. mesh bags, they are stored in our walk-in cooler. If they dry out, they get hard and inedible.”
Once Smith notifies customers, the nuts go out in 10, 20 and 25-lb. bags as fast as they come in. In addition to deliveries and mail order sales, 60 percent of the nuts are carried out the door by customers at $3 to $4 per pound.
“Everything happens in about 6 weeks,” he says. “Our customers are fun to work with, very generous and kind. When we are short of help, they will help out.”
Smith admits that it would be hard to make a living at the business. He does it because he loves it. He is confident the business has a good future. “Our sales are growing about 20 percent a year, and the average age of our customer is between 40 and 50,” says Smith.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Smith, 106 Legion Rd., Columbus Junction, Iowa 52738 (ph 563 260-6333; Gsons3@aol.com; www.prairiegrovechestnutgrowers.com)
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Their Chestnut Business Is Growing Fast CROPS New Crops Roger Smith has chestnuts for sale but you better get your order in fast Last year he sold more than 70 000 lbs of Chinese chestnuts between late September and the first of November Some are from his own trees planted about 15 years ago Most are from the 60 other growers within a 150-mile radius of him who comprise Prairie Grove Chestnut Growers “Our major market consists of ethnic groups and stores in strong ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago St Louis and Waterloo Iowa ” says Smith “About 99 percent of our customers are from China South Korea and southeast Europe They have a love affair with chestnuts and will bring their kids to our place and just stare at the trees ” Smith started growing chestnuts when he learned how long it would take before he could harvest nuts off the black walnut trees he had planted He went home and tore out about 100 walnut seedlings and started planting chestnuts Chestnuts he had learned start producing nuts at about 5 years increasing to peak production by 20 years and continuing at that or slightly higher for decades after “It takes about 10 years for a chestnut tree to be profitable ” says Smith “Most trees planted in the past 20 years are Chinese chestnuts but some of our growers have European chestnuts that are 40 to 50 years old ” Smith notes that chestnut trees require more care than black walnuts and can be a challenge to keep alive and productive Deer squirrels and raccoons all love the trees and the nuts This year he had to spray his trees to control Japanese beetles Each fall the trees need to be pruned for optimum nut production Like other fruit and nut trees production can vary considerably from year to year The nuts fall over a period of 7 to 10 days Harvest starts in mid to late September and runs through October “You have to wait until the chestnut falls from the tree ” explains Smith “It is white in the burr and doesn’t turn color until 48 hours before it falls ” Smith says most growers mow close to the ground prior to harvest and use the Nut Wizard to collect nuts in Vol 38 No 5 and available from Amazon com Once all the nuts have fallen they mow close again to break up burrs that might allow the chestnut weevil to overwinter “Growers deliver nuts every second or third day as we only deal in fresh nuts ” says Smith “As they come in we sort by size and clean if necessary Once they are in 25-lb mesh bags they are stored in our walk-in cooler If they dry out they get hard and inedible ” Once Smith notifies customers the nuts go out in 10 20 and 25-lb bags as fast as they come in In addition to deliveries and mail order sales 60 percent of the nuts are carried out the door by customers at $3 to $4 per pound “Everything happens in about 6 weeks ” he says “Our customers are fun to work with very generous and kind When we are short of help they will help out ” Smith admits that it would be hard to make a living at the business He does it because he loves it He is confident the business has a good future “Our sales are growing about 20 percent a year and the average age of our customer is between 40 and 50 ” says Smith Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Roger Smith 106 Legion Rd Columbus Junction Iowa 52738 ph 563 260-6333; Gsons3@aol com; www prairiegrovechestnutgrowers com
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