Organic Whole Walnuts - Glendas Farmhouse

Buy high-quality, organic whole walnuts from Glenda’s Farmhouse to take advantage of the many nutrients in walnuts. Our delicious nuts are a smart snack for work, travel, or at home.

Glenda’s Farmhouse is an Andersen & Sons Shelling brand. As a vertically integrated farming operation, we raise, hull, dry, shell, sort, store, package, and sell healthy-for-you walnuts.

Our walnuts are certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and non-GMO project verified, gluten-free, kosher, and certified vegan. We are also one of the only walnut facilities to hold a Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, one of the industry’s most rigorous and credible food safety and quality programs.

Why Buy Organic Walnuts?

When you place non-organic and organic walnuts side-by-side, they might look the same. But there may be differences that can impact your health. Even though the nut meats are protected by a shell, there are still ways that chemical exposure could affect the nut.

Both non-organic and organic nuts are treated with chemicals, but organic farms are more limited in the pesticides and fungicides they are allowed to use. Sometimes shelled nuts are treated with fumigants—gases that kill insects—but there is no evidence that the chemicals used, such as methyl bromide, pose any threat to people when consumed.

At Glenda’s Farmhouse, we encourage customers to choose organic walnuts whenever possible or talk to their local walnut farmer about their growing practices. We also recommend buying organic cashews, pecans, and pistachios as often as possible.

Tips for Buying Walnuts

Unshelled walnuts:

  • Buy whole walnuts in the shell for the freshest nuts with the longest shelf life.
  • Unshelled walnuts should have a full and heavy feel. When you shake them gently and the nutmeat inside rattles, it signals that the walnut is old and beginning to dry out.
  • Avoid walnuts with cracks or holes in their shells. The nutmeat inside will have been exposed to air and other elements, making it dry and inedible.
  • Place the unshelled nuts in a bucket of water. Those that sink to the bottom are good; those light enough to float indicate that insects may have gotten to the nutmeat inside. Discard floating walnuts.

Freshly shelled walnuts:

  • Buying whole, shelled walnuts is the next best thing to unshelled ones. For the best flavor, chop, dice, or grind them on the day you plan to use them or one day before.
  • To ensure freshness, choose nutmeats that are plump and pale. Avoid overly wrinkled, shriveled, or rubbery nuts.
  • Look for light-colored walnuts when you want a mild flavor with a fresh, buttery taste. Light amber-colored nutmeats will provide a robust flavor with a slightly sweet finish.
  • Smell and take a nibble of the walnuts. Fresh walnuts will smell nutty and have a sweet, nutty taste. Walnuts that are bitter or smell like paint thinner are rancid and need to be thrown out.

To buy healthy, organic whole walnuts, contact Glenda’s Farmhouse at 530.839.2236.