Produce Spotlight - English Walnuts
GROWN AT RAY FAMILY FARMS
Ray Family Farms is a Spokane based farm, operating a 1 ½ acre walnut orchard outside of Airway Heights. Andrew Ray grew up in central California surrounded by orchards. His work at the local CA extension office with the Nut Crops Adviser got him interested in farming nut crops and gave him the knowledge to do so. Andrew was excited to learn that walnuts can grow in Spokane after he moved here with his wife.
Over the past three years of farming the orchard, he has improved yields and size of the walnuts through proper fertilizing, watering, pruning, and mulching with the shredded prunings. They use a machine to shake the trees in order to get the walnuts to fall and be harvested.
REMOVING THE NUTSHELL (without a nutcracker)
Adapted from wikiHow.com
Soak in hot water for 24 hours (this helps so that the nut inside does not crack)
Place on a flat surface with the end facing up
Strike with a hammer until the nut cracks
Pull the shell apart with your fingers
Run a knife along the edges of the kernel to loosen it from the shell
STORAGE PRO TIP
Walnuts will store for up to nine months in the fridge or two years in the freezer when sealed in a bag or tupperware. Bake kernels for 10-15 minutes at 215F to store at room temperature for up to two weeks.
HOW TO ENJOY THEM
Try walnuts candied and sprinkled on salads, on top of hearty soups, included in a cheese plate, in cookies or muffins, in homemade granola, or plain as a snack!.