A bumper crop of walnuts across the county will bring sellers $13 per 100 pounds, the company that processes the nut in this area announced late last week. The hulling season begins Oct. 1.
Brian Hammons, the third-generation president of the Stockton company that bears the family name, predicts a better harvest this year. “Although October weather and other factors will impact the final harvest, 25 million pounds is our goal. Also, the wet spring in the Midwest has probably helped the nut quality with higher nutmeat yields than the past several years,” he said.
Many county residents pick the walnuts to generate extra incomes. Gathered in the fall and sold to local buying stations, the nuts are hulled and bagged for Hammons Products Co.
The nuts are used in baking. The hard outer shell is used for several industrial purposes, including oil well drilling, environmental filtration and as a mild abrasive in soaps and cosmetic cleansers.
To learn more, visit www.black-walnuts.com.