Industry Priorities
Midwest Chestnut Producers Council Priorities(AKA Midwest Nut Producers Council)
Chestnut Integrated Pest management
- Tree health: Chestnut blight and Asian chestnut gall wasp
- Crop quality and yield: Chestnut weevil and nut rots (e.g. brown rot)
- Sustainability: Optimize pesticide use.
Horticultural Advancements
- Improved germplasm
- Screening cultivars for Michigan suitability
- Tissue culture propagation
- Address biannual bearing
- Optimize water and nutrient management
Harvest and Processing Technology
- Machine harvester improvements
- Postharvest handling to optimize quality
Economics and Marketing
- Branding and promotion
- Consumer preferences
- New product development
Process used to develop priorities
These priorities were developed the fall of 2021 by a group of Midwest growers from the Midwest Nut Producers Council, Chestnut Growers Incorporated, Michigan Nut Growers Association, and Chestnut Growers of America.