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The Visibility Mandate: Why 2026 is the Year the U.S. Chestnut Finally Goes Digital
Last week, we talked about the “Commodity Trap” and how growers like Roger Smith are escaping it by becoming “price makers.” It was a story about economics, margins, and the future of farming. But today, I want to talk about something simpler. I want to talk about soup. Just two months ago, on a popular…
A Chestnut Blueprint: Why Specialty Crops Are Winning While Commodities Crash
In Merigold, Mississippi, a farmer named Jack Westerfield recently stood atop a mountain of 2.2 million pounds of unhusked rice, asking a question that is haunting rural America: “What am I supposed to do?” In a stark profile by The New York Times, Westerfield described the crushing reality of modern farming: despite a massive harvest,…
How to Cook With Chestnuts: Boston Butt with Chestnut Honey Glaze
From United Chestnuts Test Kitchen If you’re wondering how to cook with chestnuts, this recipe is a great place to start. Not with complicated techniques. Not by changing how you already cook. But by taking something familiar and adding one thoughtful layer that lets chestnuts shine without taking over. This dish starts as classic crockpot…
Momentum Is Building: A New Chapter for the Chestnut Growers of America
There’s a quiet but unmistakable shift happening in the chestnut industry. Across orchards, research institutions, conferences, and kitchen tables, the conversation is changing. Chestnuts are no longer just a nostalgic symbol or a specialty crop tucked into the margins. Instead, they are being recognized as a resilient, nutritious, and economically viable crop with a powerful…
How to Cook Chestnuts: Making Light, Healthy Dishes Feel Satisfying
When our kids were growing up, one of their favorite week night dinners was what we simply called lemon chicken. I’d fry up cubes of chicken and make a quick sauce using store-bought lemon curd and a splash of sherry. It was bright, comforting, and always disappeared fast. Years later, wanting to recreate that familiar…
Instant Pot Golden “Spanish” Rice For Carnitas with Chestnut Mole Sauce
Here is another recipe from the United Chestnuts Test Kitchen: Instant Pot Golden “Spanish” Rice for Carnitas with Chestnut Mole Sauce. Spanish rice should taste bright, warm, and comforting. This easy Spanish Rice Recipe gives you rich color and bold flavor with very little effort. It cooks in one pot, and it pairs beautifully with…
How To Cook With Chestnuts: Carnitas with Chestnut Mole-Style Sauce
Another recipe from the United Chestnuts Test Kitchen . It’s about to be super cold outside here in Western Kentucky and I wanted to make something comforting for the team planting chestnut trees in the orchards. How about a Picnic Roast Carnitas w Chestnut Mole Sauce?! I am using pork from Pick n Grin Farm…
Air-Pruned vs. Grow-Bag Nursery Chestnut Seedlings: What’s the Difference?
We are asked this question all the time: What’s best air-pruned chestnut seedlings or those grown in our nursery? When you compare air-pruned vs nursery-grown chestnut seedlings, you are really comparing two different paths to the same destination. Both create strong, healthy chestnut trees. They simply take different approaches to root development and early growth,…
How To Cook With Chestnuts: Chestnut & Sausage Stuffing
Melanie Jones, Chestnut Chef, in the United Chestnuts Test Kitchen
How To Cook With Chestnuts: Cod Miso–Spinach Bowl with Chestnut–Ginger Crumble
Fantastic flavor from Cod Miso–Spinach Bowl with Chestnut–Ginger Crumble from United Chestnuts Test Kitchen
Why We Started The United Chestnuts Test Kitchen
Planting the First Trees: A Personal Beginning When we planted our first chestnut trees at EBB Farms in western Kentucky, I didn’t realize I was joining a movement. At first, it was about the land — building something lasting with my husband, Brad. But over time, we began to see a bigger story unfolding. Chestnuts…
How To Cook With Chestnuts: Chestnut Cream Crêpes
United Chestnuts Test Kitchen There’s a quiet elegance in a well-made crêpe — delicate, golden, and ready to carry any flavor you give it. Here, a silky chestnut cream adds depth and warmth, transforming a simple French classic into something unmistakably autumnal. The chestnuts bring a natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with vanilla and cream,…