Chinese Chestnut: Center for Agroforestry Leads Nation’s Crop Development, Promotion

The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry conducts the nation’s most comprehensive program for developing the Chinese chestnut - an emerging and potentially highly productive nut tree crop for Missouri and the Midwest - into a profitable orchard crop. There are three field studies, a repository with 55 cultivars, a cultivar trial, and a nut production orchard at the Center’s Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) farm in New Franklin, Mo. Market evaluation studies and consumer research toward chestnuts is also conducted by the Center.

The Center’s long term objective is to create a thriving domestic chestnut industry, focusing its efforts on three key areas: national market research, production techniques/ orchard management and increasing consumer demand and awareness. The outcome of this effort will be an active program that reaches out to potential producers and establishes a multi-million dollar chestnut industry within the state of Missouri and surrounding states. Through national market surveys sent to producers and businesses active in the chestnut market in 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Center reported most consumers are unfamiliar with chestnuts, though interested in exploring them as a new food. Quality and nutrition were consistently important attributes influencing the decision to buy chestnuts. Demand for fresh chestnuts currently exceeds supply.*

The Chinese chestnut tree is a spreading, medium-sized tree with glossy dark leaves bearing large crops of nutritious nuts. Nuts are borne inside spiny burs that split open when nuts are ripe. Each bur contains one to three shiny, dark brown nuts. Nuts are microwaved or boiled to help remove the leathery shell and papery seed coat, revealing a creamy or golden-colored meat. Chestnuts are a healthy, low-fat food ingredient that can be incorporated into a wide range of dishes-from soups, to poultry stuffing, to pancakes, muffins and pastries (using chestnut flour). Historically, demand for chestnuts in the United States has been highest in ethnic markets (Italian and Asian) but as Americans search for novel and healthy food products, chestnuts are becoming more widely accepted.

Three species of chestnut provide the basis for worldwide chestnut production - Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), European chestnut (C. sativa) and Japanese chestnut (C. crenata). Chinese chestnuts are a mediumsized (40 ft.) tree often multi-branched and wide spreading. With both good cold hardiness (-20 0F) and adequate tolerance to chestnut blight, Chinese chestnut is the best adapted chestnut for Missouri and surrounding states. Three Castanea species are native to the U.S., American chestnut (C. dentata), Allegheny chinkapin (C. pumila var. pumila), and Ozark chinkapin (C. pumila var. ozarkensis), but all three are very susceptible to chestnut blight attack. In fact, the devastation caused by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) stem cankers has reduced American chestnut from a major timber species to a small understory tree.

In conjunction with research and market study objectives, the Center hosts the annual Missouri Chestnut Roast -- quickly becoming one of the premier familyoriented events for mid-Missouri and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The event is an outstanding opportunity to introduce families and landowners to the broad range of possibilities and benefits agroforestry practices can provide. Hundreds of visitors each year enjoy their first sample of sweet, Missourigrown roasted chestnuts, along with a variety of products featuring locally-grown black walnuts and pecans, recipes and nutritional information to peak their interest in purchasing nut products.

The 2006 Missouri Chestnut Roast is Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the HARC farm, New Franklin, Mo. The event features fresh-roasted chestnut samples; guided tours of the research farm; samples of Missouri cheeses, wines and specialty products; and tours of the 1819 Hickman House, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Join us for music from the Ironweed Bluegrass band, cooking demonstrations with chestnuts, informational agricultural booths and exhibits, children’s activities (including cockroach races!) and beautiful River Hills scenery. Free admission; all exhibits in tents for comfort, rain or shine. Visit www. centerforagroforestry.org for the day’s schedule of demonstrations and driving directions.

*View additional survey results and recommendations in the Chestnut Market Analysis and Market Directory at http://www.centerforagroforestry.org, Publications page. Articles based on market and consumer survey findings were published in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in HortTechnology; citations are available from the Center’s Website.