The walnut business is a broad concept that includes both home processors and large export companies. There are many ways to earn on walnuts:
1. Process your walnut at home for seasonal extra income.
2. Grow a walnut orchard and sell walnuts in shell or already processed walnuts.
3. Buy walnuts from private farms, form large lots, and sell them to exporting companies.
4. Buy walnuts in the shell, process, and sell the kernel.
5. Process the walnut or buy a finished kernel to make value-added products such as butter, milk, or snacks.
6. Export the walnut abroad.
Orchard owners usually only make money during the season when the walnut is in harvesting. At the same time, the garden needs care almost all year round. Industrial gardens cannot do without automation and a minimum set of equipment for washing and drying walnuts. The income from your own garden is increased by processing the walnut into kernels. In addition, many growers combine growing their own walnuts with buying and processing walnuts or providing processing services to other orchards and entrepreneurs. Thus, the seasonal business becomes permanent.
You can buy and sell, process, or export walnuts all year round. This is facilitated by the constant demand for walnuts in the foreign market. Of course, the volumes of walnuts, processing, and exports will peak in autumn and decline in summer, this specificity should be taken into account and the process should be organized in accordance with market conditions. The maximum efforts for business profitability are made during the walnut season - from September to February. At this time, they try to work at maximum capacity, using industrial equipment, automation, and an increased number of personnel. During the period of decline in volumes, the enterprise is calmly unhurried work, planning for the next season, finding ways to optimize business, developing partnerships, and establishing purchases and sales. After the season, part of the temporary entrepreneurs leave the walnut business, so the market becomes freer and there is work for those who work all year round.
Tips for those who are just planning to start a walnut business:
1. Determine what exactly you want to do - growing, processing, or harvesting walnuts.
2. Define business goals and walnut volumes.
3. Consult with experts and select equipment for your needs that automates and facilitates your work.
4. Start preparing for the season early so that you can get to work on time, gain the necessary experience, and work with maximum efficiency during the peak season.
5. Look for ways to earn extra money - in horticulture or harvesting walnuts, this can be processing walnuts into kernels, for processors - creating a value-added product or exporting kernels.