March 8, 2025
The Future of Chestnut Farming with Scott Smith! Growing Up in Chestnuts: How One Michigan Family Turned a Backyard Experiment into a Multi-Generational Chestnut Legacy
Scott Smith didn’t choose chestnuts—chestnuts chose him.
Although his path to becoming a grower wasn’t always clear, it was deeply rooted. His father, Bruce Smith, was one of Michigan’s earliest chestnut growers, experimenting with cultivars long before there was a roadmap.
Back in the 1970s, Bruce began planting trees with little more than curiosity and a willingness to learn. Over time, that small experiment evolved into Angle Acres, a 200-acre family farm that Scott continues to grow today—both in scale and impact.
“I was 10 years old planting trees with my dad. It wasn’t something I enjoyed at the time—because, well, I was 10—but looking back, that hands-on experience was priceless.”
(Listen at 12:53)
Now, decades later, Scott isn’t just preserving a family tradition—he’s innovating it.
🛒 1. If You Grow It, You Need to Sell It
As Scott puts it, growing chestnuts is only half the job—selling them is the real challenge.
“We all think we can just grow something and people will buy it. But what happens when you’ve got 10 zucchini plants and way too many zucchinis?”
(Listen at 20:10)
In fact, that very mindset led him to start small, walking into a local grocery store with a sample bag of chestnuts and a simple pitch: “Just try these.” Three days later, they were sold out. That store became seventeen, and today, Scott has built a profitable network—without relying on a co-op.
Takeaway: Start small, build relationships, and most importantly, educate your customers.
🛠️ 2. Chestnut Harvesting: Handpicking vs. Mechanization
Traditionally, chestnuts have been harvested by hand—and many small farms still do it that way. However, as demand grows and trees mature, mechanization becomes essential.
“If I put 10 people out in the orchard, it would take two days to collect everything. With my harvester, I can do it in about two hours.”
(Listen at 28:45)
Even so, Scott hasn’t abandoned human connection. Through you-pick events, he opens the farm to visitors, blending efficiency with community.
🤝 3. Chestnut Farming Is a Community Effort
One thing that sets chestnuts apart from other crops is the tight-knit grower community. Scott has experienced both ends—working with co-ops and selling independently.
“There’s no one right way to do this—but sharing knowledge is what keeps the industry growing.”
(Listen at 35:20)
Consequently, Scott took over the Connecticut Chestnut Registry, an expansive database that tracks cultivars nationwide. His mission? Preserve the genetics, honor past efforts, and give future growers a head start.
“We have to document this stuff. Every tree, every graft, every success and failure—it’s how we all get better.”
(Listen at 38:00)
🌱 4. Finding the Right Chestnut Cultivars for Your Farm
Just like his father before him, Scott is contributing to cultivar development. Bruce created the ‘Lorraine’ cultivar. Now Scott is registering a new one, named ‘Bruce’ in honor of his dad.
“If it starts dropping nuts on Monday, it’s done by Friday.”
(Listen at 42:15)
This level of predictability can transform operations for commercial growers. In other words, a cultivar that drops uniformly = less labor and more profit.
🍺 5. Diversification Is the Future of Chestnut Farming
If there’s one message Scott emphasizes, it’s this:
Don’t rely solely on fresh chestnuts.
“You can’t just sell fresh chestnuts. You need multiple revenue streams.”
(Listen at 47:30)
For example, Scott’s son reached out to breweries with smaller chestnuts they couldn’t sell fresh. A few were interested—in chestnut beer. But there was a catch: they needed them peeled.
“I had a batch of small chestnuts I couldn’t get rid of… so I invested in a peeling machine.”
(Listen at 49:50)
That one decision opened a brand-new sales channel. Furthermore, it validated the idea that chestnut farming isn’t just about trees—it’s about possibility.
🌳 Final Thoughts: Growing Legacy, Not Just Trees
“The industry is growing because people are learning about chestnuts. That’s what excites me the most.”
(Listen at 56:10)
Scott isn’t just farming—he’s future-proofing. His work in cultivar development, machinery investment, and market diversification proves that the next generation of chestnut growers won’t just inherit trees—they’ll inherit opportunity.
🗣️ Let’s Keep Growing Together
What part of Scott’s story resonated with you most?
Let us know in the United Chestnuts Facebook Community.
And if you’re ready to dig deeper into the future of chestnut farming:
- 🎙️ Listen to the full episode of Branching Out: Growing Together
- 📺 Watch the YouTube video for on-farm footage and interviews
- 🌱 Visit unitedchestnuts.com for tools, tips, and grower stories
