YUBA COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sutter and Yuba Agricultural Commissioners Lisa Herbert and Stephen Scheer announced the walnut buying period began on November 1, and continues through the end April 2023, as required by each county’s Walnut Theft Prevention ordinance.

The ordinances were established to deter thefts from commercial walnut growers, by creating a timeframe for walnut purchases, as well as the use of documentation to identify walnut growers.

Walnuts are the second highest valued agricultural commodity in both Yuba and Sutter counties. According to the Sutter County 2021 Crop Report, there were 39,413 harvested acres in Sutter County with a market value of $121,405,000. The Yuba County 2021 Crop Report reported 17,193 harvested acres with a market value of $55,705,000.

“The Walnut Theft Prevention ordinances are intended to deter theft, and proof of ownership is a mandatory requirement of the ordinances,” Scheer said.

The walnut buying period is the declared conclusion of harvest for the Chandler variety of walnuts by the Agricultural Commissioners, after consultation with walnut growers, during which non-processing walnut buying operations within Sutter and Yuba counties may lawfully purchase and receive walnuts that have not been dried or processed.

For more information, or to access a proof of ownership form approved by these offices, please see the Agricultural Commissioners websites: (Sutter County - https://bit.ly/2G7wsja) (Yuba County – Yuba.org/walnuts).

There are similar ordinances in place in Butte, Tehama, and Glenn counties, and in several counties to the south.