Some semblance of normalcy has reappeared in an otherwise topsy-turvy world with the announcement that the California Nut Festival was alive and well with this year's theme of “Feeding the Future.”

Cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture-focused culinary event showcasing North Valley-grown nuts — almonds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, and chestnuts — was held Sept. 25 on the historic grounds of the Patrick Ranch Museum in Durham.

With a focus on locally grown foods from the region, tree nuts took center stage as part of the gourmet food offerings, the ever-popular wine and beer sampling, nut-inspired cooking demonstrations, an art show, and live musical entertainment on two outdoor stages.

Proceeds go to support the museum that preserves and interprets the agricultural history of the Sacramento Valley.  The museum’s mission statement reads: To connect farmers and consumers, cultivate an understanding of nut production in California and how nuts fit into a healthy lifestyle.

“We work to foster a positive perception about agriculture and increase awareness and consumption of our local products in a fun and festive way,” said Museum Coordinator Susan Donohue.

Begun as a series of events that included a nut tree blossom tour, the effort morphed into chef demonstrations and the festival evolved to bring local farms and consumers together in a meaningful way.

“We’re fortunate for both farmer and business support to the Nut Festival and the museum where both groups have been instrumental in helping meet our mission of community awareness of the importance of agricultural economics,” Donohue said.

One of those festival vendors is Nick Bertagna, whose family-named nut company grows walnuts and some almonds on 200 acres in Butte County.  As a fourth-generation grower with two sons carrying on operations as a 5th generation, the Bertagna’s say this year’s harvest is expected to be a bit lighter than last year’s crop.

Red-skinned walnuts

Oldest son Jimmy oversees the company’s specialty crop, a red-skinned Livermore English walnut that is shelled, packaged, and made available directly to the consumer.

“Lots of folks don’t know the benefits of red-skinned walnuts, so the California Nut Festival is a major avenue to heighten public awareness of this unique commodity,” said Nick Bertagna.

“Our vendor booth showcases not only product, but an interactive educational option to that teaches about the anatomy of the walnut its pollination, growth, and development right up to harvest.  We offer samples of the many English walnut varieties as well as a ‘mini-sheller’ that allows visitors to crank out their own walnut samples.

“Over the years, we’ve had conversations with visitors genuinely eager to learn about nut growing, conversations that prove the importance of having a location where people can not only see, but experience how locally-grown family-owned farms grow such tasty products in their own backyard.”

This year’s ‘Feeding the Future’ event spotlighted an agriculture-focused culinary event where attendees could sample and savor nut-inspired dishes prepared by local chefs as they chatted with local farmers and learned about the equipment used in nut farming and how California nuts fit into a healthy lifestyle.