Not exactly pennies from Heaven. But it could be the season for dollars falling from the trees for many Missourians. In fact, it can be dangerous in the yard at this time of year, with walnuts dropping off the trees. But those things are worth money. Missouri is the world’s leader in Black Walnut growing. More than 100 walnut-buying stations are open here.
The nuts are heavy when they’re picked up in the yard and put in bags. But a lot of that weight won’t count when the nuts are taking to a buying station. That green or black outer shell is peeled off before the nuts are weighed. President Brian Hammons of Hammons Products in Stockton says that eliminates a lot of the weight. He says a pickup truckload of black walnuts can be worth about $100 at $13 per hudredweight, an all-time high.
Hammons’ company is the nation’s largest black walnut processor. He says the most popular uses for the walnuts is ice cream and home backing.
Hammons is looking for at least 25-million pounds of walnuts this year–double last year’s crop. His says this year’s extensive rains might have hurt other farmers, but they’ve been good for the walnut crop.
The nuts are heavy when they’re picked up in the yard and put in bags. But a lot of that weight won’t count when the nuts are taking to a buying station. That green or black outer shell is peeled off before the nuts are weighed. President Brian Hammons of Hammons Products in Stockton says that eliminates a lot of the weight. He says a pickup truckload of black walnuts can be worth about $100 at $13 per hudredweight, an all-time high.
Hammons’ company is the nation’s largest black walnut processor. He says the most popular uses for the walnuts is ice cream and home backing.
Hammons is looking for at least 25-million pounds of walnuts this year–double last year’s crop. His says this year’s extensive rains might have hurt other farmers, but they’ve been good for the walnut crop.