Michigan sees record chestnut yeilds
Michigan leads the nation in both the number of chestnut growers and trees, with production covering about 1,200 acres, according to Roger Blackwell of Chestnut Growers Inc., a cooperative that works with 32 growers in Michigan. A Michigan State University research center in Clarksville processes the nuts. The cooperative declined to put a value on the crop.
“We’ve been active since 2002 in tracking numbers, (2016) was a huge year,” Blackwell said.
That’s especially good news this time of year when the humble chestnut is most popular, with the traditional roasting of them over an open fire. The bumper crop also means good cheer for fans of the deep brown nut, who will find them at cheaper prices.
“The cost of chestnuts to consumers will vary, but overall they will drop some this year — we had three times the crop in 2016, and our suppliers are really happy that they will be able to sell Michigan chestnuts through the end of the year,” Blackwell said.
source: detroitnews.com
