Current research is focusing on finding processes for post harvesting handling of chestnuts to extend the storage life
from several weeks to several months. In prior studies chestnuts were held post harvest for about 3 months by partially
dehydrating the chestnuts prior to placing in extended storage. Using chestnuts obtained from the 2023 harvest, the
study has demonstrated the chestnuts can be held for 3 months without developing external fungus or molds. In
coming years we will propose specific criteria for creating a standard procedure to achieve long term storage of up to
4 months.
Research is also focused on the separation of debris, foreign materials, and soil particles from the harvested chestnuts
when the chestnuts are first received into the processing areas from the orchards. Developing a high efficient
seperation process will result in a higher quality product with a longer storage life. Like most production processes
getting time to update and test the processing equipment during the high usage during the harvest is difficult. Pre
harvest testing of new techniques has been very fruitful. During the 2023 harvest several test runs were performed
resulting in two process enhancements to be implemented in the 2024 harvest.
In coming years, processes will be streamlined to allow over 100,000 pounds of fresh chestnuts to be processed during
the harvest. This is a big step up from where we began in 2010 with a harvest of several hundred pounds of fresh
chestnuts.