[MUSIC] VALLEY'S GOLD, IS PRODUCED BY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FRESNO COUNTY FARM BUREAU AND VALLEY PBS.

PRODUCTION OF THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM E&J GALLO WINERY >> AGRICULTURE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT DRIVE THIS IS REGION ON HAD EPISODE OF VALLEY'S GOLD WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NUT STRAECHL WALNUTS, PISTACHIOS AND ALMONDS JOIN US AS WE CRACK OPENING STATEMENT SHELLS ON THE IMPORTANT CROPS.

CALIFORNIA'S GONE NUTS PRODUCING THE WORLD SUPPLY OF NUTS.

WE NEAR KINGS COUNTY I'M WITH MICHAEL WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THIS.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME OUT.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE AND LETTING ME TALK ABOUT OUR WALNUTS.

THIS IS OUR OLDEST FIELD WE HAVE THE TREES ARE 60 YEAR OLD AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING WALNUTS SINCE THE EARLY 1930'S OR SO >> WOW A LONG FAMILY HISTORY.

>> LONG FAMILY HISTORY.

MY GRANDFATHER IMMIGRATED HERE IN 1902.

BOTH MY GRANDPARENTS CAME AT THE SAME TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER THEY SETTLED UP NORTH FOR A BIT AND WORKED ON THE RAILROADS AND THEY SELTSED HERE IN KINGS COUNTY SXCHL THEY STARTED ON A RANCH ABOUT 7 MILES FROM HERE AND IN 1930, THEY PURCHASED THEIR FIRST PIECE OF LAND IT WAS 30 ACRES.

I THINK THEY PURCHASED THAT FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS.

FROM THERE WE STARTED GROWING AND ALWAYS DONE WALNUTS WE HAVE DONE PEACHES AND NECTARINES AND GRAPES AND COTTON AND CORN AND ONION SEED NOW.

WE ARE DIVERSIFYD THAT HAS BEEN OUR PHILOSOPHY FOR YEARS TO DIVERSIFY OUR CROPS.

IF ONE CROP DOES NOT TURN OUT ANOTHER WILL COME IN AND CARRY US THROUGH THE YEARS.

>> I'M AMAZED YOU SAID THE TREES ARE 60 YEARS OLD YOUR FAMILY PLANTED THEM?

>> THESE TREES MY PARENTS DID NOT PLANT THIS .

IS A FIELD WE ACHOIRED ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO.

>> OKAY.

>> AND OUR OLDEST FIELD IS LIKE 7 MILES FROM HERE WHERE WE DID PLANT AND THOSE ARE PROBABLY JUST AROUND 60 OR 70 YEARS OLD >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT A TREE THAT IS 60-70 YEARS OLD HOW LONG WILL THEY PRODUCE.

>> WALNUTS LAST FOREVER AS LONG AS YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM.

WE GROW PISTACHIOS AND THA THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER AS LONG AS YOU TAKE CARE TELEVISION MUCH WHAT IS THE FACTOR IS THE SIZE OF THE TREE.

WE HAVE WALNUTS SHAKE ARES THAT COME IN AND WHEN WE DRAFT THE TREES THE SHAKE ARE HAS TO CLAMP THEM IF THEY GET TOO LARGE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHAKE THEM OUT OF THE TREE.

THAT IS A FACTOR WHETHER WE REMOVE AN ORCHARD.

>> GOT IT.

WHEN YOU PLANT AN ORCHARD LIKE THIS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COME INTO PRODUCTION.

>> WE CAN HARVEST AFTER THE THIRD YEAR WE HAND HARVEST THEM.

THE FOURTH YEAR A LIGHT SHAKE WE DON'T BREAK EVEN UNTIL THE 7 OR EIGHTH YEAR.

AROUND THE TEPTH YEAR WE COME IN FULL PRODUCTION AND DEPEPPED ON THE TYPE WE GROW.

THERE ARE 30-4 VARIETIES OF WALNUTS WE GROW 6 OR SEN VARIETIES HERE AND WE DO THAT SPREAD OUR HARVEST SEASON.

WE CAN'T HARSHEST ALL OF THEM AT ONE TIME WE HAVE DIFFERENT VARIETIES THAT STAGGER OUT WE HARVEST THE END OF AUGUST.

THIS YEAR WAS EARLY WE STARTED THE END OF AUGUST AND GO TO OCTOBER.

>> WOW, >> OKAY.

>> MOST ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ALMOND THAT TAKES PLACE IN FEBRUARY AND MATCH AND REQUIRE POLLINATION SERVICES OF BEES WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CROP SNS >> WALNUTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN WALNUTS.

WALNUTS ARE SELF POLLINATING WE DON'T NEED BEES.

THE WALNUT TREES WE'RE LOOKING AT DON'T LIKE A LOT OF POLLEN.

THEY WILL ABORT THEIR NUT IF THEY ARE OVER POLLINATED.

>> OKAY.

MOVE TO WHAT WE SAW TODAY YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF HARVEST IT WAS THE EXPERIENCE TO SEAT TREES SHAKE.

TALK ABOUT THE FULL HARVEST WHAT TAKES PLACE.

>> WE START EARLY AROUND JULY WHERE WE HAVE TO LEVEL OUT OUR GROUND AND SO -- OBVIOUSLY IF WE HAVE HOLES IN THE GROUND WE CAN'T PICK UP NUTS WE COME THROUGH AND FLOAT OUT THE GROUND AND MAKE IT LEVEL.

WE IRRIGATE TO KEEP THE DUST DOWN AND WE'LL COME IN WITH A SHAKE ARE.

WE HAVE 2 -- AND WE WILL COME UP TO EACH TREE ON THESE HERE WE WILL GRAB INDIVIDUAL LIMES AND LIM SHAKE THE TREES AND THESE TREES ARE ALSO BECAUSE THESE TREES ARE SO LARGE WE HAVE TO SHAKE MULTIPLE TIMES WHAT YOU SAW TODAY WAS OUR SECOND SHAKE THESE TREES THE SHAKE 3 TIMES.

>> WOW, OKAY.

>> WHAT HAPPENS FROM THE PROCESS WHEN THAT NUT HITS THE GROUND AND GOING FORWARD?

>> AFTER THE TREES ARE SHAKEN WE COME THROUGH WITH SWEEPERS.

THE SWEEPERS LIKE THEY YOUR GRAND MOTHER ON THE FLOOR.

OVER SIZED VERSION OF THAT WILL SWEEP THE NIRT FOOT ROWS AND PUT THEM IN A ROW THAT IS 2 FEET WIDE MUCH WE WILL COME THROUGH AND TAKE OUT AS MANY STICKS AS POSSIBLE THE STICKS ARE BAD FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND FOR THE CLEEPING PROCESS PEOPLE DON'T WANT STICKS WHEN THEY EAT WALNUTS.

WE WILL GO LIEU AND PICK UP THE WALNUTS IN A ROW AND AFTER WE PICK THEM UP -- OUST FIELD WE WILL COME THROUGH WITH A CART AND THAT CART WILL TAKE THEM TO THE ELEVATOR YOU SAW AND THE ELEVATOR WILL LOAD IN A SET OF DOUBLES AND THAT SET OF DOUBLES GOES TO A HULLER.

>> THE HULLER WHAT IS THE PROCESS IT TAKES PLAY.

>> HULLER WHAT WE DO IS WE WILL UNLOAD THE SET OF DOUBLES TO A LARGE PIT AND THEY WILL TAKE THE NUTS AND CLEAN THEM AND WASH THEM AND THEY DRY THEM AND SEPARATE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOREIGN MATERIALS WHETHER THEY ARE GOLF BALLS WE WILL TAKE OUT GLASS AND ROCKS, WE WILL TAKEOW ANYTHING THAT IS NOT A WALNUT THAT GETS SEPARATED OUT AND YOU ARE LEFT WITH WALNUTS.

>> THANK YOU NOTORIETY INFORMATION ON THE WALNUTS LITE SEE PIS TASH I DON'TS.

>> GREAT, LET'S GO.

>> WE ARE NORTH OF HAMPFORD WE MOVEED PISTACHIOS >> THIS TREE IS A 6 YEAR OLD PISTACHIO TREE.

YOU ARE GETTING RED TING ON THE OUTURE HULL AS YOU PEEL THIS HULL OFF YOU WILL SEE THE SPLIT ON THE SHELL OF THE PISTACHIO.

THAL ENAEBLT PROCESSOR TO PEEL OFF THE SHELL AND GET TO THE KERNEL.

THE KERNEL ITSELF IS HERE.

>> THIS LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN THE WALNUTS WE LEFT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GROW A PISTASHIOSE >> THEY TAKE LONGER TO GROW.

FOR THE FIRST HARVEST THE TREES ARE 6 YEARS WALNUTS WE HARVEST AT YEAR 3 THE PISTACHIO TREE IS A DESERT PLANT FROM TURKEY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

AND THEY'RE VERY HEARTY TREES THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER AS LOPPING AS YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM.

THEY DON'T GROW LARGE MAY BE DOUBLE THIS SIZE AND WE WILL SHAKE THEM ONCE A YEAR LIKE ON WALNUTS WE WILL COME BACK AND STHAK A SECOND TIME.

>> TALK ABOUT THE SHAKE ITTING IS DIFFERENT THAN WALNUTS THESE NEVER TOUCHT GROUND >> THAT'S RIGHT THE WAY THEY ARE HARVESTS WE DON'T LET THEM HIT THE GROUND.

AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS BRING IN A SHAKE THAT ARE IS SIMILAR TO WALNUT SHAKE TERSHAKES ON THE OTHER HAND THEISTRY AND A CANOPY ATTACHED THE PISTASHIOSE YOU TALK ABOUT THE NONPOLLINATION WHAT HAPPENED IN SPRING WITH THESE?

>> THE TREE IN THIS ORCHARD WE NEED A POLLINATOR AND THEY WILL BE SPACED EVERY RANDOM SPACING WE USE AND YOU TELL BY THE WHITE TREES IN THE FIELD.

WE PAINT THEM WHITE SO THE SHAKE ARE PEOPLE WILL NOT SHAKE THEM.

>> THERE ARE NO NUTS.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE TREE GOING BACK TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

PISTACHIO SYSTEM A NEW CROP IN THE VALLEY.

WE LOOK AT THIS TIME FROM BEING IN THE LATE 60'S WHEN IT WAS AVAILABLE.

THE POP LARITY EXPAND IN THE LAST DECADE.

TALK ABOUT HOW THAT MARKET INCREASED.

>> YES, IT IS INYEBL HOW FAST THEY HAVE TAKEN ON A POP LARITY WITH A CONTOOURM SURM.

WE'RE SELLING THEM ALL OVER THE WORLD SIMILAR TO WALNUTS.

WE FIND NEW MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING ME OUT ON THE FIELD WE'RE HEADED MEDERO TO CHECK OUT ALMONDS.

>> THANK YOU, A PLEASURE SHOWING YOU OUR FIELDS.

>> THANKS.

>> FROM KINGS KOUN TOW WESTERN MADERA I HAVE MATT WHO WILL TALK ABOUT HIS ALMOND CROP.

THAECHGS FOR HAVING ME OUT IN THE FIELD.

>> TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY.

FOURTH GENERATION FARMER YOUR GREAT GRANDFATHER SETTLE THIRD DEGREE AREA.

>> THEY BROKE GROUND HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST RANCH IN 1946.

HE JUMPED SHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SETTLED HERE IN THE 1900'S.

>> I ASSUME IT WAS TOUGH GROUND.

>> YES , IT WAS ALL JUST PASTEUR THERE WAS NO ROADS.

ALL LOOKED LIKE DESERT.

>> WE ARE TALKING AL MONT MONSD YOU HAVE A FEW OTHER CROPS, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> WINE GRAPES.

RAISINS AND PISTACHIOS AND ALMONDS.

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE.

WE HAVE ALMONDS ON THE TREE THAT YOU ARE IN THE PROEFSZ HARSHETING NOW.

TALK ABOUT THE HARVEST SEASON AND WHEN THAT TAKES PLACE >> WE HARVEST THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST.

ALMOND VS SEVERAL VARIETIES NOT ONE NUT IS THE SAME AS THE OTHER.

>> YOU HAVE THE STAPLE THAT IS THE BIG ARE NUT.

THE BIGGEST KERNEL WE GET PAID A PREMIUM FOR THOSE MUCH THE POLLINATORS YOU CAN'T HAVE YOU NEED ANOTHER TREE OF DIFFERENT VARIETY TO POLLINATE THE TREES WITH.

AND SO THE PEARL IS FIRST AND WE WILL SHAKE THOSE IN AUGUST.

AND AFTER THAT WE GO TO DIFFERENT VARIETIES AND SHAKE THOSE.

>> THE FUN FACT YOU TALKED ABOUT POLLINATORS AS WE TALK ABOUT THE SEASON OF THEAL MOND TREE I KNOW THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT SYSTEM DURING BLOOM SEASON IN FEBRUARY AND MATCH I HEARD BUT 80 PERCENT OF THE BEES ARE HERE IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY POLLINATING THE TREES >> IT IS INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE BEES WE PUT IN 2 HE WAS PER ACRE.

IT IS -- A SITE TO BEHOLD.

THE BLOOMS ON THE TREE ARE MAGNIFICENT.

HAVE THE WHITE PETALS WITH PINK CENTERS TEMPERATURE IS INCREDIBLE.

>> THEY BLOOM THEY ARE THE ECONOMIC SIGHT OF WHAT WE DO MUCH THE BLOOMS EQUAL WHAT WE SEE ON THE TREE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT >> IF WE GET BAD WEATHER WE GET A RAIN OR FROST DURING THAT PERIOD, IT COULD DECIMATE OUR CROPS.

THAT IS OUR MAKE PERIOD THAT TIME YEAR.

>> ORCHARD WE NEAR HOW OLD ARE THESE?

>> THESE TREES ARE 7 YEARS OLD.

>> AND TYPICALLY HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FROM THE TIME YOU PUT THE STICK IN THE GROUND -- TO THE TIME YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE PRODUCTION?

>> WE ARE ABLE TO GET GOOD PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD YEAR.

USED TO FIGURE ON OLD ARE ORCHARDS WERE 4-5 TO GET A GOOD CROP.

WITH THE WAY WE PUSH THEM WE GET 30 YEAR CROP >> ALMONDS THEY ARE NOT A REALLY LONG LIVING TREE AS FAR AS A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

20 THF 30 YEAR RAFRNL.

>> ON THE OLDEST ORCHARDS -- THEY'RE PLANTED ON A 24 BY 24 SPACE THEYING HAVE MORE ROOM TO GROW AND LASTING US LONGER WE ARE GETTING 30 YEARS.

WE'RE PUSH THE PUSHING SEVERAL THIS YEAR AND OUR OLDEST IS 33 YEAR OLD.

WE ARE GETTING 2 THNLD POUND CROPS.

>> THE ONE THIPG I LOVE TO SHOW PEOPLE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANAL MOND WE REFER TO IT AS A NUT IT IS THE IN THE STONE FRUIT FAMILY.

YOU SEE IT IS FUZZY LOOICCA A PEACH, YOU BREAK IT OPEN THAT IS THE SKIN OF A PEACH AND YOU HAVE THE SCHEL.

I WOULD TRY TO BREAK THIS HOEP OPEN THIS SAY HARD SHELL IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

THIS WILL COOPERATE.

THEN INDEED IS WHERE YOU GET THE KERNEL.

THAT'S THE KERNEL OR THE MEAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE FUN THINGS IF YOU HAVE SEEN A SPLIT OF A PEACH PIT YOU LOOK LIKE AN ALMOND IN THE MIDDLE.

THIS IS EDIBLE I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO EAT A PEACH.

>> LOOKING AT THIS BRANCH IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE HAVE.

EXPLAIN A BIT ABOUT WHAT WE SEE HERE THIS IS A TREE UNHARVESTED.

>> YOU GOT THE NUTS ON THE TREE.

>> IT IS READY NOW.

IT WILL BE SHAKEN AND YOU GOTTA SHAKE THEM ON THE GROUPED FOR THE NUT TO DRY BELOW A MOISTURE LEVEL BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM TO PROCESS.

THAT THEY WILL STAY WITHOUT MOLDING OR ROTTING.

MACHINES COME THROUGH AND SHAKE.

IL SHAKE IT REAL QUICK.

SEE HOW EASY THEY COME DOWN.

THEY HIT THE GROUND.

HOW LONG IS THAT PROGRESS TAKE?

>> ON A HARD SHELL THEY STICK TIGHTER AND SHAKE THEM FOR 8 SECONDS.

>> IT IS IP CREDIBILITY VIBRATION THAT IS TAKING PLACE.

HOW FAST IS THAT MOVING?

>> IT IS BASED OFF RPM AND THE SIZE OF THE WEIGHTS IN THE PICKING HEAD IT CAN HAVE DIFFERENT VIBRATIONS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS THE TREE CAN -- DEPENDING ON THE VARIETY IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING YOU DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

FLOORS ARE CRITICAL DURING HAEFSHT WHCHL WE SHAKT NUT ON THE GROUND WE HAVE TO PICK THEM UP OFF OF.

IF WE HAVE A HOLE OR SWIRL HOLES OR DIFETS OR A KIND OF PIT TO WHERE THE NUTS FALL IN THEM.

THEY WE CAN'T GET THE NUT OUT UNLESS YOU GO DOWN BY HAND TO DO IT.

EVERYTHING IS MACHINE DONE.

WE HAVE SWEEP ARES THAT SWEEP THEM IN ROWS.

AND WE HAVE -- PICK UP MACHINES WE PICK THE NUTS UP WITH AFTER THAT.

>> MATT.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME YOUR FAMILY'S OPERATION.

WE ARE OFF TO SEE HOW THEY ARE HOLD IN SHELVES.

LET'S GO.

>> WE HAVE LEFT THE FIELD AND MOVE NOD HARRIS WOLF ALMONDS.

I HAVE JOEL PERKINS WHO WILL TALK ABOUT HIS OPERATION.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME OUT.

>> TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS OPERATION NEAR 5 POINT.

>> OPERATION STARTED IN THE 80'S BETWEEN THE HARRIS AND WOLF FAMILY.

JUST TO HANDLE THEIR VOLUMA AS THEY HAVE GROWN WE HAVE GROWN WITH IT.

IT WAS EARLY WHY WASSED JACK WOLF THAT GOT ALMONDS GOING HERE ON THE WEST SIDE >> FANTASTIC LOOKING, GREAT INSIDE WHAPD WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE NUTS COME FROM THE FIELD TO THE PLANT.

>> WE RECEIVE PRODUCT NORMALLY IN EARLY TO MID AUGUST.

AS THE HARSHEST IS GOING ON.

THAT CONTINUES THROUGH LATE OCTOBER.

SOMETIMES EARLY NOVEMBER.

AS WE RECEIVE PRODUCT WE STOCK PILE IT AND OUR FIELDS WE FUMEIGATE IT AND HULL AND SHELL IT UNTIL WE ARE DONE.

>> SO, THAT PROCESS TAKES UNTIL CHRISTMAS.

GETTING THE PRODUCT IN SHELVES.

WE PRODUCE BOTH BROWN SKINS THE KERNEL LIKE YOU ARE USING TO SEE NEGLIGENT GROCERY STORE AND IN SHELLS HAVE THE HULLS REMOVED >> IT IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE PROCESS WHEN YOU LOOK WHAT IS IN THE FIELD THISSA WHAT IS IN THE BIN.

GOES THROUGH QUICKLY I SAW AS WE WALKED THROUGH TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SHED THERE.

>> THE TECHNOLOGY HAS NOT CHANGED IN A LONG TIME THERE ARE NEW SORTING EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOST PART IT HAS NOT CHANGED.

IT SHAKES THE HULLS OFF AND CRACKS THE SHELLS.

GOAL IS TO GET OUT THE FOREIGN MATERIAL AND DO AS LITTLE DAMAGE AS YOU CAN TO THE KERNEL INSIDE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THAT COME FROM THIS AND THE 2 SPECIFIC LINES WHERE ARE THEY?

>> THE IN SHELL PRODUCT GOING TO INDIA AND CHIENASM PRODUCT TO INDIA IS CRACKED OUT THERE.

THERE IS BENEFITS TO IT GOING TO INLDIA IN THE SHELL.

WE -- SO THAT PRODUCT GOES TO INLDIA THE CHINESE PRODUCT GETS ROASTD AND IN SHELL THE IN SHELL GOES THAT DIRECTION.

KERNELS ARE DOMESTIC PRODUCTS.

INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING TYPE USE AS WELL AS CONFEKZARY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> MOST PEOPLE HERE DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU MENTION THE CHINESE IT IS LIKE A PEANUT YOU DO PEEL THEAL MOND OUT AND THAT'S HOW THEY EAT THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> TALK ABOUT THE BIPRODUCTS.

IMPORTANT TO THE INDUSTRY AND DARE INDUSTRY.

>> ON THE HULLING AND SHELLING SIDE THE HULL AND SHELL REMOVED FROM THE NUT BECOMES A FEED SOURCE FOR THE DAIRY COWS.

IT IS CRITICAL TO THE ALMOND INDUSTRY IT SAY REVENUE SOURCE BUT CRITICAL TO THE DAIRY FARMERS IT IS AN AFFORDABLE FEED PRODUCT TO SUPPLEMENT DIETS WITH.

>> WHERE DO YOU SOURCE THEM FROM.

>> FROM CALIFORNIA 80 PERCENT OF THE WORLD SUPPLY FROM HERE FROM BAKERS FIELD TO CHICKO AREA.

OF THAT PRODUCT, 70 PERCENT GUESS ECPORT.

30 PERCENT.

IT IS A LARGE CROP FOR CALIFORNIA.

THIS YEAR BEING AROUND 2 BILLION POUND CROP THAT IS A 6 BILLION DOLLARS INDUSTRY >> HERE YOU WERE TELLING ME APPROXIMATELY RAW PRODUCT IS 200 MEDICAL POUNDS AND ONE THING I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THAT IS THE MEAT THAT THE CONSUMER SEES.

>> CORRECT.

>> WE'LL HANDLE 50-65 MILLION POUND IN A YEAR.

>>YOU WILL SEE IN THE PROCESS IN HERE IT IS IS INCREDIBLE TO SEAT MACHINERY YOU HAVE AND IT TAKES HUMAN HANDS.

TALK ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO WHAT YOU DO HERE.

>> DURING THE HARSHEST AND HULLING AND SHELLING WE EMPLOY OVER 300 FEMALE HERE.

IN THE OFF SEASON WE EMPLOY OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE.

WE ARE A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN THIS AREA AND IT IS -- INDOOR WORK ENVIRONMENT AND A GOOD WORK ENVIRONMENT >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THIS HAS BEEN A HECK OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK THIS OUT AND REALLY APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO NUTTY ACTIVITY GOING ON HERE.

>> THANKS.

[MUSIC] >> WE SEENT NUTS MOVE FROM THE FIELD TO THE PROCESSING PLANT BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS HOW THEY GET TO YOU.

WE ARE IN SHAW FAMILIAL MOND I HAVE BARBARA SHAWED AND KIM WHO IS A MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEAM THAT RUNS THE COUNTRY STORE.

THACHGS FOR HAVING ME OUT.

>> TALK ABOUT THE COUNTRY STORE.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RUN THANKSGIVING SGR >> HAD THE STORE SINCE 1991FUL THE PROCESSING PLANT WE HAD A YEAR BEFORE THAT >> MOST IMPORTANT IS NOT THAT YOU HAVE THE STORE BUT YOU ARE FARMERS YOURSELF.

TALK ABOUT YOUR FARMING OPERATION AND HOW MANY GENERATION ITS HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY.

>> A LOT MY GRANDFATHER AND FATHER MY HUSBAND AND I AND DAUGHTERS AND THEIR SON AND SON-IN-LAWS ARE ALL FARMERS, TOO, FOURTH GENERATION FARMERS.

>> AND FIFTH GENERATION IS IN SCHOOL NOW.

>> YEP.

>> AND SO WE JUST START SELLING AL MONSD I SOLD 10 POUND BOX FROM THES GARAGE.

WHEN I WE BOUGHT THE PROCESSING PLANT HAD CUSTODY MERS COME HERE AND WANT ALMONDS AND HAD A FRIEND, LITE DO GIFT BASKETS.

I TOLD MY HUSBAND CAME HOME, I WANT YOU TO BUILD ME A STORE.

WE HAD SO MUCH PRODUCT WE WANTED SELL.

WE GOT MORE AND MORE >> 91 YOU HAD INCREDIBLE TEPURE.

>> EVERY YEAR WE GET -- BUSIER.

>> YOU WANT TO SHARE THE BIGGEST SELLERS HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR MOST POPULAR IS THE VALLEY HARSHEST MECHES.

LIMELIGHT IN FRESNO SELLS IT AS A SALAD TOP AND A GREAT SNACK TO EAT.

ANOTHER POPULAR ITEM IS BARBS BAR MIX.

BARBARA IS HERE.

SHE CAME UP WITH THE RECIPE AND POPULAR WITH DRINKS OR SNACK, A GREAT, FUN THING TO SKR HAVE AND OUR 10 POUND NATURAL ALMOND ITS IS IN A BOBBING LIKE THIS.

THIS IS WHAT WE SELL OVER THE WORLD.

>> THAT IS WHERE THIS STARTED?

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A NEW ITEM IS ALMOND FLOUR.

IT IS POPULAR WITH BAKING, FUN.

>> WE HAVE OF COURSE VERY POPULAR CHOCOLATE COVERD AND RANCH ON AN ALMOND IT IS A SMALL AREAL MONTH, LOTS OF FLAVOR.

>> FUN THING ABOUT A COUNTRY STORE LIKE THIS YOU GET VISIT ORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT INTO THE UNITED STATES AND WANT TO TRAVEL COUNTRY ROADS ON THE WAY TOIOSEM TEE AND STOP AND SEE A COUNTRY STORE SORE THEY COME.

>> IT IT IS NOT THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE YOU HAVE A PRESENCE ON LINE WITH THE WEBSITE?

>> OUR WEBSITE, POPULAR.

A LOT OF OVER SEAS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OR LOCAL THAT GET ON THE WEBSITE AND SHOP AND OTHERED GIFT BOX.

AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTS FROM OUR STORE.

>> HERE AT SHAWEDS ALMONDS COUNTRY STORE I GRABBED A LONG TIME CUSTOMER DEBORAH, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT ME >> YOU ARE WELCOME, >>YOU HAVE BEEN COMING HERE.

>> 20-25 YEAR, >> THAT'S FANTASTIC WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?

THE GREAT SERVICE AND GIFTS.

>> CAN'T GET A MORE UNIQUE GIFT.

>> I ASUM YOU MUST LOVE THE PRODUCTS.

>> ALWAYS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE.

THE CHOCOLATE COVERED DARK CHOCOLATE.

>> CHOCOLATE MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER.

>> AND I SEE IN YOUR HANDS YOU BROUGHT A BASKET AND WINE WITH YOU YOU ARE HAVING A BASKET MADE?

>> IT IS A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR A SPECIAL FRIEND THEY WILL PUT ANYTHING TOGETHER FOR YOU YOU BRING YOUR OWN PRODUCTS YOU MIX IT WITH LAL MONDS AND MAKE ITS SF.

>> FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU, I WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO SHOPPING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALMONDS WALNUTS PISTACHIO IN A NUT SHELL, THE LOCAL TREATS ARE ALL A PART OF OUR VALLEY'S GOLD.

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME INCOME TIME.

VALLEY'S GOLD, IS PRODUCED BY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FRESNO COUNTY FARM BUREAU AND VALLEY PBS.

PRODUCTION OF THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM E&J GALLO WINERY