Growers protect walnuts from sunburn damage

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Just as you would apply sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun's rays, many Valley farmers have taken a similar approach when protecting their crops.

A Fresno County walnut grove resembled a Christmas tree lot in December. The trees were flocked all the way down to the trunk but the white material which covered the trees and the walnuts was sprayed on to protect them from the sun's intense heat.

Fresno farmer Jim Quist explained, "We put a material on that acts a lot like whitewash. It just blocks the sun from burning the outside part of the walnut."

Fresno County crop advisor Gurreet Brar said the product sold as "surround" was an organic white clay powder.

Brar said, "The heat stress can be really detrimental to the trees, to the health of the trees. It can impair the photosynthetic machinery of the trees. It costs trees a lot of energy to fight the heat stress."

Quist said the protective clay is effective. Without it he believed the walnuts would be damaged during this long heat wave. "The walnut will turn dark and sunburn. It just transfers that heat inside."

Brar added, "Walnuts are typically prone to sunburn and the sunburn can impair and degrade the quality of the developing young walnuts."

Nut crops like walnuts have grown both demand and value so protective measures like sunblock are essential.