Walnuts have been produced in San Benito County for many, many years. Although there are fewer acreage of walnut orchards, walnuts ranked third in the fruit and nut crops category in 2014 in terms of their value. Last year, the walnut crop was worth over $5.5 million, according to the San Benito County 2014 Annual Crop Report.
My aunt and uncle had forty acres of English Walnuts. I always tried to get there in time for harvest, since i played guitar for my living, we decided raking was the safest chore for me - so, a tree shaker thing would drive in front, hold the trunk of the trees and shake each one - so walnuts would fall to the ground - then i would get to come along and rake them into the middle of the path, so another vehicle could drive along and collect them. Those tress were precious to all of us - years before i got to walk the field when they looked like sticks in the ground and white wash them, so the new plants would not get sun burned. I would get to take the family dog with me and my grandfather would signal us from across the field when it was time to come in. What excellent memories you have given me today. My aunt and uncle had property that sat right between Visalia and Tulare, I believe the address was actually Tulare , , My uncle bought the property because the original road name was "Lover's Lane" - but later was known as the highway number . . . they partly raised me. Great people, awesome stories,
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty country where your uncle and aunt lived. Your descriptions are so vivid, I feel like they are my memories. Your experience is a song for you to write one day, if you haven't already, G. And, if you have, I would like to hear it.
Deletejust watched a documentary of almond harvesting, and wrote to my girlfriend. She planted some walnut trees.
ReplyDeleteYou got me curious, Ann, so I went and read about almond harvesting. Very intense. I had no idea. That plus all the water it takes to grow them would be enough incentive for me to not have an almond orchard.
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