Vol. 5 No. 1 Published by The Western Chestnut Growers Assn., Inc. Winter 2003 Nominating Committee Italian Families Host Chestnut Day Provides Proposed Slate of Candidates for June Election in Mendocino County, California by Harvey Correia The following persons have been For background information, in the late for U-Pick or $3.00 for the largest chestnuts nominated for office: 1800s and early 1900s several Italian fami- that have already been harvested and sorted. President: Chris Foster lies settled in the coastal mountains in The families also roast some chestnuts, hand- Vice President: Harvey Correia Mendocino County, California. Naturally, ing them out as snacks and samples. A pot- Secy/Treas: Ray Young they brought with them many of their cul- luck lunch/dinner is incorporated into the Director: Lee Williams tural traditions. There are numerous small event and plenty of local wine is also poured, Director: Peggy Paul plantings of old chestnut trees that were including various homemade variations. Director: Lucienne Grunder Director: Bob Schilpzand According to the bylaws, Article VIII Nominations: Members may nominate their own candidate(s) by submitting a written petition to the Secretary at his regular address, prior to the election and including the following: a) A written acceptance by each nominee to serve the association for the next year; b) A request to place the proposed candidate(s) on the ballot with a clear description of the office being challenged, signed by at least 10% of the eligible voting members listed in the most recent membership directory (currently 9). Nominations may not be made at the Raymond Zeni is shown here roasting chestnuts at his ranch on “Chestnut Day”. June annual meeting. If no valid written petitions are planted during those time periods that still Many of the guests attending the received by the Secretary prior to March 1, exist today. One of the older farms that Chestnut Day have been coming for many the Nominating Committee’s slate shall be was established was the Gianoli Ranch near years and use it as an opportunity to considered to have been elected unani- Yorkville which, according to Jennifer gather their annual supply of chestnuts. mously and no balloting shall be necessary. Pronsolino who owns that ranch with hus- It was a beautiful drive and the families band Ron, was homesteaded around 1882. are great hosts, so we’re sure to make ppp The neighboring Zeni Ranch was purchased the trip again. In This Issue by the Zeni family in the 1920s and the third ppp generation continues to operate the ranch. It appears that all of the trees planted on If your mailing label says 1 Nominating Committee Report these two ranches are European species, 1 Italian Families Host Chestnut Day “Exp: 2002” most likely brought over from Italy. 2 President’s Message it means your dues for 2003 are For the past 20 years, the Zeni Ranch 3 Adventures of the Casey’s DUE NOW has had an annual “Chestnut Day” on either 4 UC Davis Meeting the last Saturday of October or first Satur- Fill out the colored form enclosed 5 Chestnut Nutrition Update day of November. I decided to make the and return ASAP to make sure 7 Annual Meeting Announcement trip to these two ranches this year with my 8 Clothing Order Form you don’t miss out on the next ...and in addition family and we had a great time. The objec- issue of the newsletter. Make sure tive of this event is to help pick up the last of Membership Renewal Form to sign up for the Growers’ Growers’ Directory Application the year’s harvest and to have a good time. Chestnuts are available for $2.50 per pound Directory as well. Summer 2002 1 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT WESTERN CHESTNUT GROWERS ASSN., INC. As the New Year approaches, the chestnut marketing BOARD OF DIRECTORS season is winding down or is over for many of us. Check- PRESIDENT Chris Foster ing around, I found most growers locally to have already (503) 621-3564 sold whatever quantity they had, but not without getting out Email: [email protected] there, and making the necessary contacts, calls, and VICE PRESIDENT Ben Bole SECRETARY-TREASURER Ray Young (360) 887-3669 promotion. Domestic production and promotion is not to the DIRECTOR Harvey Correia point where we can just sit by idly and wait for calls. DIRECTOR Lucienne Grunder People need to know we exist, and many potential buyers DIRECTOR Peggy Paul DIRECTOR Bob Schilpzand need to be introduced and familiarized with the product. I COMMITTEES spent a day at a farmer’s market late this season, and the vast majority of sales were to Editor Carolyn Young people completely unfamiliar with chestnuts despite being in relatively “food sophisti- Phone: (360) 887-4520 FAX: (360) 887-3669 cated” downtown Portland. One of the aims of this organization is to help in lay the email: [email protected] groundwork for expanding market opportunities for everyone. The overall market for NOTICE The Western Chestnut is published quarterly domestic chestnuts needs to grow, and that may not happen without an organized by the Western Chestnut Growers Assn., Inc. at effort. Production is increasing. PO Box 841, Ridgefield, WA 98642. I suspect that some of the inquires and interviews I had with several journalists this Copyright 2003. Original articles may be season may have been prompted by the WCGA Press Release in September and reprinted with written permission of the author and this publication. October. Its effect is difficult to measure, especially over a short period. Much work Single membership is $25 per year per per- remains, and your continued suggestions and support are welcome. son -- household membership is $35. Members Plans are underway for the 2003 Annual Meeting to be held the weekend of receive The Western Chestnut quarterly. For June 28th and 29th in Brush Prairie, Washington. As always, we need member input foreign delivery contact the Editor for pricing. Back issues may be obtained by members. and volunteer help to make this a quality event. Please contact me directly with your Membership applications may be obtained from subject ideas and availability to help with organization. Also, if you have thoughts the Secretary-Treasurer. about what this organization should be doing in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to POSTMASTER write or call me directly. Send Address changes to WCGA, c/o PO Tentatively, the meeting classroom presentations will focus on at least two topics. Box 841, Ridgefield, WA 98642. We hope to have a presentation from someone with first hand “group” experience ADVERTISING RATES Full page, camera ready (w/1 photo) .. $20.00 about building and expanding markets for a similar product. Personally, I will be Half page, camera ready (w/1 photo) ... 15.00 giving a presentation reviewing the current science and art of storage and condition- Quarter page ......................................... 10.00 ing techniques for the fresh market. I will review various methods currently in use, and Business card (4 issues) ........................... 15.00 One classified ad per member per year is free what the latest scientific research suggests. Storage and packaging to maintain best (max 6 lines, $2.50 ea add’l 6 lines). Ad space quality is no simple matter, and most of us can at least, incrementally improve our may be reserved with full payment but must meet technique and understanding. There’s nothing worse right now for our industry than established deadlines. If ad is cancelled, money may be refunded if space is resold. Make checks consumers being initially turned off by a bad experience with spoiled chestnuts. All payable to Western Chestnut Growers Assn., Inc. WCGA members should be making their best effort to deliver a good product. All ads and other copy preferred in PC format on We will also be making stops at at least four local orchards, where the focus will disk or e-mail to [email protected]. Ads must adhere to published ad sizes for space be cultural practices and management techniques. Each orchard representative will purchased. Call for specifics. Otherwise for best discuss one or more specific topics. Mark your calendars and please attend! results, submit original photographs. Layout of ads will not be done until payment is received. Send materials to P.O. Box 841, Ridgefield, WA 98642, or Fedex/Express Mail to 29112 NW 41st Ave., Ridgefield, WA 98642. Call for further info. EDITOR’S NOTES PUBLICATION AND DEADLINES At last, a real use for Nevadas. In her emails from Europe, Jane Casey happened to Fall issue deadline 9/10 mailed 10/1 include a photo of free range pigs eating chestnuts in a forest in Corsica. She mentioned that Winter issue deadline 12/10 mailed 1/1 this is a desired means of finishing a pig before market. With article in hand and a couple Spring issue deadline 3/10 mailed 4/1 of buckets of Nevadas ready for the composter, Ray hotfooted it over to our neighbors who Summer issue deadline 6/10 mailed 7/1 have a handful of pigs. The pigs were delighted and nearly got into a fight as each EDITORIAL OPINION attempted to get everything for himself. The views, articles and advertising appearing in The Western Chestnut Quarterly do not But back to more important things -- Harvey shares with us the proceedings of the necessarily reflect the attitude nor policy of the meeting at Davis, and also his family’s day at the California chestnut festival. Jane Casey Western Chestnut Growers Assn., its members, graciously allowed us to publish a snippet from her travel journal. And Jeff Olsen gives us an officers, Board of Directors or Editor.