About United Chestnuts
What is United Chestnuts?
United Chestnuts is the academy and support system built for the next wave of U.S. chestnut growers. We equip growers with practical education, digital tools, and marketing knowledge so they can build serious farms, not side projects. The U.S. accounts for less than 1% of global chestnut production. That gap is the opportunity and it’s what we’re here to close.
Who founded United Chestnuts, and why?
United Chestnuts was co-founded by Melanie Jones and Kim Douglass. Melanie is also a partner at EBB Farms Lab in Kentucky and VP of Growth at the Chestnut Growers of America. Both founders are active in the industry — not watching from the sidelines. United Chestnuts is the on-ramp for newcomers learning this crop. Since there wasn’t anything like it, we decided to build it.
What problem is UC actually solving?
Growers have been learning from scattered PDFs, conflicting Facebook threads, and advice that may or may not apply to their soil, their region, or their seedlings or cultivars. Meanwhile, many U.S. growers sell out every single season — the demand is real. So we started documenting what we’ve learned firsthand, and sharing it.
Why does United Chestnuts emphasize the practitioner-first model so strongly?
Because this industry has enough armchair advice. Too much of what growers find online is theoretical, generalized, or based on someone else’s conditions. At United Chestnuts, everything we teach comes from firsthand experience on a working farm. When we say something works, it’s because we’ve seen it work — on a real orchard, in real conditions. This industry moves fast, and nobody has it all figured out, including us. We set out to share what’s worked for us, and we’ll keep doing that as we grow.
Does UC have a podcast?
Yes. Branching Out: Growing Together, produced by United Chestnuts, is the industry podcast. It’s where we bring growers, researchers, buyers, and food leaders together for honest conversations about where this industry is, where it’s going, and what it takes to build something real. Find it wherever you listen.
The United Chestnuts Academy
What is the UC Academy?
The Academy launches in the Fall of 2026 with a set of guides developed primarily for EBB Farms customers, our farm lab. We aim to cover everything a grower needs from Year 0 through Year 10 — site selection, chestnut planting choices, soil health, orchard establishment, processing, DTC sales, grants, marketing, and brand building.
What kind of content is inside the Academy?
Practical, applied, and specific. The content, updated frequently, inside the Academy is built from over a decade of real farm experience at EBB Farms — Melanie and Brad Jones’ working chestnut operation in Kentucky. And often input from other industry leaders. We simply wanted to create the learning tools we didn’t have access to when we started.
Is the content self-paced?
Yes. The curriculum is built to be worked through on your own schedule. The structure means your entry point is wherever your orchard is right now — you're not locked into a cohort or a calendar.
Who is United Chestnuts For
Is United Chestnuts just for experienced growers?
No. The Academy is built to meet growers where they are — whether you're evaluating land for your first planting or you're three years into production and trying to build a real brand. The Year 0–8 curriculum follows the arc of an orchard's development, so your entry point depends on where you are, not where someone else thinks you should be.
I'm not a grower — can United Chestnuts still be useful to me?
Yes. The team works with landowners evaluating chestnuts as a crop, food entrepreneurs building chestnut-based products, buyers looking to source American-grown chestnuts, and industry partners who want to be part of building this market. If chestnuts are part of your business or your plans, there's a place for you here.
I already know how to grow chestnuts. Why do I need United Chestnuts?
Production knowledge is one piece. Marketing, branding, DTC systems, and telling your story in a way that commands premium prices — that's a different set of muscles. United Chestnuts isn't just about growing chestnuts. It's about building a chestnut business. There's a gap between "I know how to grow" and "I'm operating like a serious player." United Chestnuts closes that gap.
I'm producing chestnuts and need help finding markets or buyers. Can UC help?
Yes. Connecting growers to markets and building the infrastructure for a stronger U.S. chestnut market is central to what UC does. Reach out to us directly and let's talk about where you are and what you need.
Content & Co-Creators
Is United Chestnuts a nonprofit or a trade association?
Neither. United Chestnuts is a practitioner-led education and brand framework — a private company with a mission: help people grow chestnut trees successfully in the United States.
How do I become a UC co-creator?
If you have deep, proven expertise in commercial chestnut production, processing, marketing, or a related field and you want to build something with us, reach out. We're selective. We're looking for practitioners with real track records, not speakers with generic content. Contact us at [email protected] or fill out our contributor form.
Chestnut Growers of America
How is United Chestnuts different from the Chestnut Growers of America (CGA)?
They serve different roles and both matter. CGA is the national association — it handles membership, connectivity, industry standards, and research coordination. United Chestnuts focuses on education. CGA is the institutional backbone of the industry. United Chestnuts is where you go to build your farm and your brand. They are complementary, not competing.
Do CGA members get any benefits at UC?
Yes. CGA members receive discounts on UC offerings. We designed it that way intentionally. The stronger both organizations are, the stronger the industry is. If you're not already a CGA member, that's worth looking into at chestnutgrowersofamerica.com.
Getting Started
How do I get involved with United Chestnuts?
Start at unitedchestnuts.com. Get on our list to be notified when the Academy launches, explore the podcast, or reach out directly if you have a specific question about your operation or a partnership inquiry.
I have a question that isn't answered here. How do I reach you?
Email us at [email protected] or call 678.234.4894. We're growers and operators ourselves — we read the emails, and we'll get back to you.
Ready to Build Something Real?
The U.S. chestnut industry is being built right now, in real time, by people with soil under their boots. The market is real. The demand is real. What's been missing is the infrastructure — the tools, the education, the frameworks, and the shared identity that let serious growers show up like the serious players they are. That's what United Chestnuts is building.
If you're ready to be part of it, we're ready for you. Join the movement at unitedchestnuts.com.