Achieving A Super-Premium Walnut Crop
September 17, 2014 Just Before Harvest
1) Do not allow nuts to become water stressed.
This will lead to lower weight, and obviously, lower returns.
2) Early harvest spray (ethephon) can be used; make sure to apply when packing tissue of all nuts turns just brown.
Applying the spray too early will cause the nuts to not reach full development.
Harvest
3)Timing is everything.
Keep an eye on the weather. Harvesting at the hottest part of the day will cause nuts to stain, while harvesting during rainy weather will cause mold development.
4) Them earlier the harvest, the lighter the kernel.
Nuts left too long on the tree will develop darker color.
5) A clean orchard = clean nuts.
Keeping the orchard floor clear will reduce foreign material in the nuts and be valued at a better quality for returns.
6) Follow Good Agricultural Practices.
This includes proper maintenance of harvest vehicles, training employees to not eat nor spit in active harvest areas, etc.
7) Always have ‘Safety First’ approach.
Right After Harvest
8) Get the nuts off the orchard floor and to a huller/dehydrator at the earliest possible time.
This will prevent any quality problems from setting in as well as prevent potential theft, a growing problem the past few years.
Source: California Walnut Board “Best Practices”
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