Harvest is typically conducted during autumn, but this year Mother Nature wreaked havoc. 

Walnuts Australia chief financial officer Maurice Felizzi said there had been a significant nut drop thanks to warmer than usual temperatures. 

“We experienced unseasonably hot weather (in Leeton), which impacted the nuts quite dramatically,” Mr Felizzi said. 

“It wasn’t really ideal, so it has resulted in a smaller yield from the orchard for this harvest. 

“(The yields) are significantly reduced compared to last year.

“We were still able to employ many people in the labour jobs at that time, so there were positives.”

Walnuts Australia now operates its enterprise from Leeton with offices both in town and on site at the Colinroobie Road orchard. 

Tasmania recorded a solid harvest, with good quality nuts shipped to Leeton for the hulling, drying and cracking process. 

The Leeton operation is the hub for those activities and more, with nuts coming in from across the different sites that Walnuts Australia operates. 

“We had very good quality for the nuts in Tasmania,” Mr Felizzi said. 

The demand for walnuts continues to grow on a global scale, with Walnuts Australia building a solid export business in the process. 

This year it could find itself in an even better position. 

“The largest producer of walnuts is in California, but they have experienced a terrible year in terms of hot and dry weather,” Mr Felizzi said. 

“That is good news for us with the nuts we have produced. 

“We’ve basically already sold everything.”

Looking ahead to next year’s season at the Leeton orchard, Mr Felizzi said there had been many discussions had on how to avoid this year’s result. 

“Obviously you can’t control the weather, but we have been given some expert advice from external sources overseas,” he said. 

“We have also conducted a review of operations on how we do things. 

“There’s also been a lot of internal research happening. Basically we fund ourselves for that research as we are the industry (in Australia).”

Mr Felizzi said while the harvest hadn’t produced the results expected, the orchard remained a hive of activity and it wasn’t cause for concern.