About Black Walnuts
Black Walnuts are different from the English Walnuts that you commonly see in grocery stores. They have a more robust flavor that many people prize, and the shells are quite strong. Please use care when cracking them open.
Shipping
All nut orders include Free Shipping via USPS Priority Mail with tracking.
Returns/Refunds
Black Walnuts are a natural, unpackaged food item and cannot be returned. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns due to “Wrong Item Ordered.” If you received an incorrect order (wrong quantity) or did not receive your order, please use the Contact form to let us know, and we’ll follow up with additional instructions. Be sure to save the shipping box and shipping label if there is an issue with your order.
PLEASE NOTE: We shouldn’t really have to make a special effort to educate potential buyers about black walnuts, but it is sad that too many people are not aware of some basic info… and later claim issues that are not our fault.
What Is “Organic”?
Well, use of the phrase “certified organic” falls under USDA control, and there is registration and a lot of testing involved. However, use of the word “organic” is uncontrolled and pretty much anybody can use it to describe anything. For example, someone who collects black walnuts in their yard where they use fertilizers and weed killers would not be “organic” under the USDA guidelines, but they can still legally use the word “organic” in their ebay ad. We use chemical fertilizers on our orchard because the soil nutrients were so out of whack. We could call our nuts “organic” but I think that would be misleading. Others are not so concerned about possibly misleading their buyers. So just be cautious about anything advertised using the word “organic.”
Differences Between Black Walnuts and English Walnuts
There is a big difference between BLACK walnuts and ENGLISH walnuts. Most of the walnuts sold in US grocery stores are ENGLISH walnuts. They are easier to crack than native BLACK walnuts, and have a milder flavor. We are selling BLACK walnuts. Please do not ask for a return because you really wanted ENGLISH walnuts or did not know there are different kinds of walnuts or did not know what BLACK walnuts taste like.
The shell of BLACK WALNUTS is very hard compared to ENGLISH walnuts. That’s just the way they are. You will need a special nut cracker that has been designed for black walnuts. Small hand crackers that you might use for pecans or English walnuts WILL NOT WORK. It can be a lot of work, but we believe that the unique taste of BLACK walnuts is worth it. Returns cannot be accepted because the nuts are “too hard to crack.” They are naturally supposed to be that way.
Black Walnuts in the shell are a natural food product. There will be variation as to what’s inside once the nuts have been cracked open. We take great pride in our efforts to bring you the best nuts possible, from nut selection, quick hulling and washing, floater removal, to thorough drying and curing. We have every confidence that you will find far fewer underdeveloped nuts or “duds” in the Black Walnuts in the shell from us than from anyone else. However, it is still possible for a “dud” to sneak through. That’s why we always add 3-5% extra nuts to each box. Please do not request a return merely because you found one or two nuts that have what you believe is an imperfect nutmeat. This is a natural food product, and it is not reasonable to expect an UNOPENED natural food product to be 100% perfect 100% of the time.
A Word About Squirrels and Black Walnuts
For the most part, all squirrels are capable of cracking or chewing through the shell of our Black Walnuts in the shell. They naturally know how to do it, and they are much better at it than humans. Look at our eBay feedback comments and you will see many, many comments about squirrels that love our black walnuts in the shell. That being said, if you have some special pet squirrels that have been hand fed on nothing but soft nuts like peanuts, pecans, English walnuts, etc., for years, then it is possible that they have forgotten what to do with a BLACK walnut, or they are just too spoiled and have become picky eaters that want some sort of soft-shell nut instead. Please do not ask for a return because the nuts are too hard for your squirrels to open. They are NOT too hard for squirrels to open, but overly pampered squirrels (yes, there are a few) may CHOOSE easier food instead. That’s not a problem with our black walnuts in the shell.