BLM Offering Walnut Picking Permits in Bend Area

Just in time for area residents to stock up for holiday baking, the Bureau of Land Management will host a walnut picking day Saturday, Nov. 3, at a public land orchard in the Sacramento River Bend Area between Red Bluff and Redding.

BLM staff will be selling permits from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a 30-acre orchard along Gover Road just south of the Coleman National Fish Hatchery Road.

The $10 permits are good for 10 pounds (about two grocery bags full) of English walnuts.  Permits are limited to one per family.  Individuals must bring their own bags. Mechanical picking equipment is not allowed.

“We hope this will be a nice opportunity for families to enjoy the fall harvest,” said Jennifer Mata, manager of the BLM’s Redding Field Office.  “Most of the nuts are ripe on the trees or have recently fallen.”

Walnut permits and orchard access will be for one day only.  The event will be rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 10, if it rains.

The BLM acquired the walnut orchard in a land purchase to increase public access along the Sacramento River.  It has not been managed commercially for several years, but the trees are still producing good quality walnuts.

The agency plans to eventually restore the land to native riparian habitat.

More information and directions to the orchard are available from the Redding Field Office at (530) 224-2100.

Northern California District   355 Hemsted Drive      Redding, CA 96002