They Grow Chestnuts In Kansas

They Grow Chestnuts In Kansas CROPS Miscellaneous “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” doesn’t immediately bring the image of Kansas to mind But Chestnut Charlie’s in Lawrence Kan might change that while educating consumers about the seasonal nut Charlie NovoGradac and his wife Debbie Milks along with dozens of helpers harvested 30 000 lbs of chestnuts from about 13 acres of trees in 2021 Their venture began in 1995 when NovoGradac decided he wanted to grow an organic crop on their property Since his father was retiring from growing Christmas trees NovoGradac planted 1 000 evergreens and planted chestnut trees between every third tree “It took 12 years for them to begin to produce nuts - and they grew on us ” he says adding that they also experimented with black walnut pecan and hazelnut trees Freezing temperatures are not ideal for growing chestnuts but Chinese chestnut varieties are hardier than European/Japanese varieties grown in other parts of the country   “Customers say they like the Chinese varieties better because it’s easier to peel off the bitter skin ” Milks says Also because chestnuts are not common in Kansas the couple hasn’t had issues with diseases or insects such as the weevils that infest pecans That’s made it easier to use organic practices - nitrogen-fixing cover crops mulching and constantly pruning brush trees like mulberry wild grape and elm that grow close to the chestnut trees During the 4 to 6-week harvest starting in mid-Sept workers pick up every chestnut every day to keep disease from starting The chestnuts are placed in water and all the floaters are removed and fed to hogs The rest move on to an inspection belt where they are sorted and sized before being bagged and put in a cooler Chestnuts don’t keep like other nuts NovoGradac emphasizes They must be refrigerated and only keep a month or two “Chestnuts become sweeter with a little bit of drying because their starch converts to sugar ” he explains “Chestnuts should be consumed while still plump and firm to the touch They can be peeled by roasting boiling or microwaving ” To roast chestnuts are first scored with a knife so they don’t explode They can be baked in a 375-degree oven or heated on the stove or an open fire The shell and thin skin inside are peeled off the warm chestnuts and they’re ready to eat Or the kernels can be frozen in plastic bags for later use Flavors vary between the varieties Milks says and customers describe the flavors differently from squash to potato to mushroom The texture is mealy and chestnuts can be used in soups stuffing and other recipes Nutritionally they have fewer calories and lower fat compared to other nuts They’re high in antioxidants and fiber and have nutrients beneficial for heart and digestive health as well as blood sugar control Marketing them was challenging initially The couple roasted chestnuts to sell along with Christmas trees but they only had two sales They sold roasted chestnuts at events but people didn’t want to purchase them to roast themselves After they held a farm tour that included many Chinese Americans and someone posted about them on a food blog Chestnut Charlie’s grew in popularity The couple sells out every year through retail sales including U-pick farmer’s markets and online $5 to $7/lb depending on size and wholesale to natural food stores and other markets “We get a lot of requests from people interested in starting chestnut orchards ” Milks says Growing chestnut trees is profitable but she notes there are challenges Though they don’t blossom until June late freezes that damage leaves can kill the season’s crop A walk-in cooler is required and enough labor to harvest daily is important It can also take 8 to 12 years for trees to provide a good harvest Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Chestnut Charlie’s Box 1166 Lawrence Kansas 66044 ph 785-841-8505; chestnutcharlie@gmail com; www chestnutcharlie com; www chestnutgrowers org

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