CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE HARVESTING AND PROCESSING OF WALNUTS.

Establishment of walnut plantations can be a successful business in the medium and long period of time. In terms of planting technology, maintenance, harvesting and recovery of the walnut kernel, it is not needed for a considerable effort from both the financial and the labor force. Harvesting and peeling walnuts from the green cover can become one of the easiest stages in the exploitation of walnut plantations. In this context, existing walnut harvesting machines and equipment on the market can ensure and meet the farmer's requirements. Self-propelled, or towed walnut harvesters can also be used on sloping land. The existence of nut shakers makes it possible to shorten the harvesting period and increase the harvesting efficiency for large plantation areas. The harvesting period of walnuts differs from one variety to another and even from one tree to another. It can be considered that even at the level of a tree the nuts have different harvesting phases (nuts usually have a massive crown), depending on their position. Depending on the variety that has been planted, and the geographical position of the walnut culture, distinguishes three categories of walnut ripening periods - early, semi-early and late. If the harvesting and preservation of walnuts is done in strict compliance with the harvesting technologies and their preservation, can last for years without losing the taste qualities. Due to the very high demand on the market, the development of a walnut plantation business on large areas can become very attractive. Considering that young walnuts have the crown formed without the intervention of the human factor, we have new evidence that walnut plantations are easy to maintain compared to other types of plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]