FACILITATED HARVESTING OF CHESTNUTS

CHINESE CHESTNUTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATLY EXPENDED COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.A. LOCALLY PRODUCED CHEST NUTS COULD REPLACED IMPORTED CHESTNUTS IN THE MARKETPLACE AS WELL AS EXPLOIT NEW MARKETS. ONE BARRIER TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION IS LACK OF HARVEST TECHNOLOGY. WE PROPOSE DETERMINING EFFICACY AND COSTS OF 2 HARVESTING METHODS: 1) ALLOWING RIPE CHESTNUTS TO NATURALLY FALL ONTO TARPS PLACED UNDER TREES; AND 2) USING A MECHANICAL TRUNCK SHAKER TO SHAKE CHESTNUTS ONTO TARPS. WE WILL ALSO DETERMINE: 1) CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN CHESTNUTS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE RIPEN ING; 2) CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN CHESTNUTS AFTER RIPENING; 3) LENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION OF NATURAL NUT DROP; AND 4) EFFECT OF WEATHER PARAMETERS ON RIPENING AND NUT DROP.