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Connecticut Chestnuts offers the finest selection of fresh, delicious chestnuts, grown right here in the Connecticut River Valley. Enjoy the taste of quality with every bite.
Available each fall at the Ellington Farmers Market. We're currently off-season — join our newsletter or follow us on Facebook for harvest updates.
Why chestnuts?
Despite their small size, chestnuts are packed with nutrients. They contain gallic and ellagic acid, which may help protect heart cells against oxidative stress, and they're a good source of potassium, which supports heart health.
Chestnuts are also rich in fiber, which supports digestion, nurtures beneficial gut bacteria, helps produce short-chain fatty acids, and may aid in weight management. Our young trees are already producing flavorful, nutritious nuts each season.
Chestnuts contain gallic and ellagic acid, which may help protect the heart cells against oxidative stress. They are also a good source of potassium, which is beneficial for the heart.
Our young trees are producing nutritious chestnuts. Chestnuts are a good source of fiber, which has many health benefits.
The fiber found in chestnuts supports digestion, nurtures beneficial gut bacteria, assists in producing short-chain fatty acids, and may aid in weight management.
Why buy local?
The United States imports roughly 7.5 million pounds of chestnuts each year — mainly from Italy, China, and Korea — even though we can grow some of the finest chestnuts in the world right here. Imported chestnuts are picked, packed, stored, shipped, and finally delivered to a supermarket near you. By then, they may be months old. Local chestnuts are fresher by far.
Thanks to the dedication of U.S. chestnut breeders, we now have non-GMO varieties that thrive here without falling to blight. Small-scale farmers across the country are growing chestnut orchards and giving their communities a fresher, healthier alternative to imported nuts.
Supporting local farms helps your community in real ways:
- Economic impact — money spent locally circulates within the community, supporting other businesses and creating jobs.
- Quality — locally grown food is fresher and better.
- Environment — local farms often use sustainable methods that protect resources and soil health.
- Connection — buying local lets you know where your food comes from and who grew it.
Imported chestnuts are picked, packed, stored, fumigated, shipped, and delivered to a supermarket near you... Whatttttttttt?, local chestnuts are by far the best!
Due to the dedication of several U.S. chestnut breeders, we now possess non-GMO varieties that can thrive in the U.S. without succumbing to blight. Small-scale farmers nationwide are cultivating chestnut orchards, providing locals with a nutritious and healthy option over imported chestnuts that may be several months old.
Support your local farms! Doing so benefits communities in several key ways:
Economic impact: Money spent at local farms circulates within the community, bolstering local businesses and generating employment.
Quality of products: Food grown locally is typically fresher and of superior quality.
Environmental advantages: Local farms often employ sustainable methods that preserve resources and promote soil health.
Connection to food: Purchasing from local farms enables consumers to understand the origins of their food and the farmers who grow it.
A bit of chestnut history
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once one of the most common trees in the eastern U.S. forests, numbering nearly four billion. They were among the largest, tallest, and fastest-growing trees around. But in the early 20th century, a blight caused by an invasive fungus devastated their numbers, depriving both people and wildlife of their nutritious nuts.
Over the past 50 years, dedicated growers have worked tirelessly to develop hybrid varieties that thrive in orchards. We've secured 750 of the finest tree varieties for growing large, flavorful, nutritious nuts in the eastern United States. By pairing the best nut producers with some of the nation's prime farmland, we're now growing chestnuts in the Connecticut River Valley — a region known for yielding some of the world's finest crops.
“The chestnuts from Connecticut Chestnuts are the best I've ever had! Fresh, flavorful, and delivered right on time. Highly recommend to anyone who loves chestnuts.”
(Laura B. CT)
Fresh Chestnuts, Each Fall
Experience the rich flavor of our locally grown chestnuts. Join our newsletter to know the moment they're ready.
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