Experts predict that hazelnuts, because of their versatility, will provide many lucrative opportunities for nut growers and processors. Hazelnuts are very popular in trail mixes. Additionally, hazelnut by-products can be used in a wide array of food products, including edible oils, spreadable nut butters, nut flours, and confections. In addition to uses in food products, hazelnuts may be effectively used as feedstock in a bioenergy environment. Given the hazelnuts' potential for economic enrichment, it is important for small growers to know how to efficiently harvest the nuts.
Black walnuts should be harvested during the the fall, when they reach maturity. When mature, the nut hulls turn from yellowish to black. The hull will be soft to the touch and when squeezed your finger should leave an indentation on the hulls. Some people prefer to harvest black walnuts off the ground while others harvest off the tree. Harvesting off the tree may yield maximum quality.
Once you have picked your black walnuts, you should start hulling them. One of the commonly utilized hulling methods is stomping the nuts until the hull is removed. Be wary of the hull juice, as it will stain anything that it comes into contact with, including the cement, your clothing and your hands. The stain is extremely difficult to remove from your hands and impossible to remove from your clothing. So try not to get it on you. After you have removed the hulls, wash the nuts in water and remove dirt and debris. Take notice of any nuts that float during the washing process - they are rotten and should be thrown away. After washing allow the nuts to dry for several weeks in a cool dry space. Lastly, you will need to crack them. Do not even think about using a hammer or vice. The black walnut cracking tools are too slow and unreliable. Invest in a black walnut cracking machine such as the Hunt’s Walnut Cracker or the Drill Cracker.
No comments:
Post a Comment