September/October 2022 - 9

COVER STORY
farming practices to take care of it, " said Carriere. " But, if
there's a port strike or a shipping delay, we're at the mercy
of the port. "
About two-thirds of walnuts are exported, and provide
roughly 85,000 jobs.
Sustainability and efficiency partnership
These terms - sustainability and efficiency - are not
mutually exclusive. At Carriere Family Farms, water is
closely monitored to reduce costs. Soil and leaf samples
are taken frequently to be sure only the necessary
amount of nutrients is applied to avoid overfertilization.
The farm follows the latest integrated pest management
recommendations released by University of California,
Davis. The first solar array was installed over 10 years ago,
with additions over the years and more planned in the
expansion. The majority of power is generated by solar.
The latest, however, are plans for an onsite facility that
will convert walnut shell waste to green hydrogen. This
is a gasification process that thermally converts the shells
into a syngas (synthesis gas) at really high temperatures in
an oxygen-free environment.
It's a zero emissions process that produces biochar,
heat, which Carriere hopes to use in some fashion for the
plant in phase two, and the syngas that is captured and
sold. Not only will it remove the shell waste, but it will
also eliminate the need to have it trucked - currently
at 100 miles - away and burned to generate power.
Its profitability will also provide a return for growers,
whereas shells are currently a cost.
" It turns a waste product into something valuable, in a
green way, " said Carriere. " A lot of handlers are having a
problem getting rid of shells, and hopefully this will be an
example that other handlers can copy. "
This modular unit is anticipated to process 40 tons
of shells per day, and is expected to come online
September 2023.
New varieties keep farmers going
While Carriere Family Farms continues to try new
technologies and push the high quality of California
walnuts, Carriere wants to remind fellow walnut growers
that sustainability and efficiency is key to remaining in
the market. In addition to the usual suspects - water,
fertilizers, etc. - an important part of this is investing in
newer varieties and saying goodbye to legacy varieties as a
commercial grower.
" They take less inputs, generally, and they produce
greater yield and better quality, " said Carriere. " And that's
the key to survival. If you don't get good quality and good
yields out of your field with minimal input, you're not
going to survive. "
It also helps processors market better.
Carriere serves on the California Walnut Board and the
California Walnut Commission.
NATIONALNUTGROWER.COM 9
http://crophesy.com http://www.NATIONALNUTGROWER.COM
September/October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2022
