At Dixon Ridge Farms, our walnuts enhance the value of food products the world over. Food processors buy our organic walnuts with the confidence that they will receive the best quality walnuts because of our processing procedures. We are proud of our product traceability and superior quality standards.
When it comes time to shell our walnuts, we pull them out of storage and run them through our shelling machine. After the machine removes the shell and the walnut meats have gone through their first sort, the same bin gets a plastic liner and the shelled walnuts are placed back in these bins. This bin then goes back into refrigerated storage until we do a second and final sorting.
When our walnuts go through their second sort, the bins are pulled out of storage; the shelled walnuts are transferred into a hopper and are fed onto the sorting belt. After removal of all defects, these walnuts are either immediately packaged in shipping boxes or placed back into the same plastic lined bins, as previously marked. They are then stored until ready for shipment. At the time of packaging, each shipping container (case) receives a stamped lot number. This lot number is recorded and correlates to the bin identification. The DFA of California then inspects the cased walnuts, where they need to meet or exceed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established standards. After this inspection, the shipping cases are stamped with the Walnut Marketing Board/USDA stamp. They are then placed back in refrigerated storage until shipment.
We are proud of our sustainable processing practices! We have a solar array on top of our facility, our freezers are designed for energy efficiency and in 2007, we started converting walnut shell into electricity on site! Read our sustainability practices page to learn more.
5430 Putah Creek Road | Winters, CA 95694 | 530-795-4619
