Have you discovered the wonder of walnuts? They’re delicious, nutritious, and handy additions to any healthy diet. Glenda’s Farmhouse produces, packages, and distributes our own walnuts, and we’re excited to begin the harvest period!
The walnuts that we produce meet incredibly high standards with all of the following features:
- Certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
- Non-GMO verified
- Gluten-free
- Kosher
- Certified vegan
Reviewing the Walnut Harvest Process
Walnut harvest occurs during September, and we at Glenda’s Farmhouse find this time to be the most exciting period of the year!
The walnuts tell us when the time to begin harvest arrives. The outer green hull of the walnuts will become dry and begin to come apart so that the walnuts can be collected from their hulls.
In anticipation of September’s arrival, we get ready by clearing the ground of the orchard of debris. We need this clear space to install the shakers to dislodge the mature walnuts from the trees. Once the walnuts fall, we can then collect them, clean them, husk them, and dehydrate them.
The next step in the harvesting process is to sort the dehydrated walnuts according to whether they are still within the shell or not. If they are, they are then categorized by size and sent for washing. Once washed, they’re prepared for packaging. If they’re meant for shelled use, they are directed into a machine that cracks them for shell removal and then sorted by size and color and filtered to eliminate any bits of shell from the walnuts.
After a thorough inspection for quality control, we package our walnuts or direct them to the next step in the process in the case of our flavored walnut crumbles.
Glenda’s Farmhouse Walnut Products
- Organic Walnuts
- Savory Walnut Crumble
- Mexican-Inspired Walnut Crumble
- Asian-Inspired Walnut Crumble
Suggestions for Ideal Walnut Storage
Keep the walnuts in your kitchen fresh by storing them properly. Cold storage is always best for walnuts, whether shelled or unshelled. Refrigerator storage will provide your shelled walnuts with a shelf life of a month and unshelled walnuts with a six-month shelf life. For longer term storage, choose the freezer. Seal your walnuts in freezer bags and keep them frozen for up to 12 months. You won’t need to thaw them before throwing them in a recipe.
Choosing between Shelled and Unshelled Walnuts
Deciding whether you should buy shelled or unshelled walnuts comes down to longevity, price, and convenience. Shelled or unshelled, nutrition is the same.
Shelled walnuts provide convenience. You’ll be able to open the bag and just throw a handful into a sauce, onto a salad, or just toast for a snack.
Unshelled walnuts, though, remain fresher due to the additional protection the shell provides, but you will have to crack them yourself.
Glenda’s Farmhouse produces and distributes wholesome walnuts, and we’re ready for the harvest! Keep a supply on hand at your home for nutritious snacking and meal creation by ordering online or by calling us at (530) 839-2236.