From Wall Street to Chestnut Orchards: Brett Hundley on the Long-Term Investment Case

From Wall Street to Chestnut Orchards: Brett Hundley on the Long-Term Investment Case

What happens when a Wall Street equity analyst with a master's degree in natural resources turns his attention to chestnut farming? You get one of the most data-grounded, ecologically serious conversations we've had on Branching Out: Growing Together. Brett Hundley of Agroforestry Partners spent 15 years covering packaged food and agribusiness before co-founding a fund that has now planted nearly 1,600 acres of chestnut trees in Kentucky. He's not a romantic about it — he ran the numbers, visited farms in Chile, and made a deliberate choice. In this episode, he shares exactly what he found, what surprised him, and what it means for growers at every scale. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why chestnuts rose to the top when Brett's team evaluated every major tree crop for the eastern U.S. * What a research trip to Chile's commercial chestnut industry revealed — and one observation that every American grower needs to hear * The real economics of chestnut farming: timeline, yield benchmarks, land value, and what patient capital actually looks like * How the U.S. compares to mature chestnut-producing countries — and why being early isn't a disadvantage * What Brett believes the domestic chestnut industry looks like in 30 years, and what role independent growers play in getting there Visit unitedchestnuts.com for trees and resources from the Ebb Farm Lab and a community of growers ready to help. Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of Branching Out: Growing Together. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Explore More from United Chestnuts * Main Website: unitedchestnuts.com [https://unitedchestnuts.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes [https://unitedchestnuts.com/podcasts/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies [https://unitedchestnuts.com/united-chestnuts-blog/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You [https://unitedchestnuts.com/ebb-farms/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] This episode includes AI-generated content.

Starting a Chestnut Orchard the Right Way Feat. Jon & Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries

On this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, host Melanie Jones sits down with Jon and Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries in Michigan. Together, the sixth- and seventh-generation Nashes share the habits, decisions, and community values that turn a first chestnut planting into a thriving orchard — from patience and site selection to tissue culture and the brand-new Treeborne value-added line.What You’ll Learn * Why patience is the #1 rule when starting a chestnut orchard (2:00) * The simple 1×1×1 soil-drainage test that can save your investment (36:45) * How six generations of know-how moved from Bill’s memory into barcodes and field maps (12:30) * The beer-napkin origin story of Treeborne’s chestnut chips and chestnut brown ale (23:00) * What tissue-culture Eurohybrids could mean for the next wave of growers (26:00) * Why Jon says, “We are not a big enough industry for everyone to be their own kingdom” (44:00) Resources Mentioned * Nash Nurseries — nashnurseries.com [https://www.nashnurseries.com] * Chestnut Growers of America (CGA) [http://www.chestnutgrowers.org] * Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) [https://nutgrowing.org] * Midwest Chestnut Producers Council [https://www.canr.msu.edu/chestnuts/resources/midwest-nut-producers-council/index] * Michigan State University — Dr. Dennis Fulbright, Dr. Mario Mondojando * Treeborn [https://www.treebornproducts.com/pages/about] — roasted chestnut chips, flour, and value-added products If this episode helped you, share it with a fellow grower and leave a review — it helps other chestnut-curious folks find us. Join the community at unitedchestnuts.com [https://unitedchestnuts.com], subscribe to the weekly blog, and let’s keep growing together. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Explore More from United Chestnuts * Main Website: unitedchestnuts.com [https://unitedchestnuts.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes [https://unitedchestnuts.com/podcasts/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies [https://unitedchestnuts.com/united-chestnuts-blog/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You [https://unitedchestnuts.com/ebb-farms/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] This episode includes AI-generated content.

Sandy Russell on Chestnut Operational Maturity

Chestnut operational maturity is the difference between a hobby orchard and a resilient business. In this episode of Branching Out, I am joined by Sandy Russell to discuss the rigorous post-harvest systems required to survive a rapidly changing agricultural market. We explore why cold chain management, strict grading, and shared industry standards are absolute necessities for the modern grower. Takeaways from this episode: * The 90/10 rule of chestnut supply chains. * How to avoid the financial risks of blind aggregation. * Why small growers must adopt strict post-harvest discipline today. Listen to the full interview and join the conversation. Subscribe to Branching Out: Growing Together. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Explore More from United Chestnuts * Main Website: unitedchestnuts.com [https://unitedchestnuts.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes [https://unitedchestnuts.com/podcasts/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies [https://unitedchestnuts.com/united-chestnuts-blog/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You [https://unitedchestnuts.com/ebb-farms/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] This episode includes AI-generated content.

High-Tech Harvest: Transforming Orchards with Drone Technology

Can a drone really change the way you manage a chestnut orchard? This week, I’m sitting down with Caleb Canter from AeroAg to talk about the leap from hobbyist toys to industrial-grade tools. We explore how autonomous flight is solving age-old problems for growers—from precision spraying in tight canopies to mapping tree health with LIDAR. Whether you’re managing five acres or five hundred, this conversation is a look into the future of sustainable farming. ● The Battery Breakthrough: How lithium-ion tech changed the game for heavy payloads. ● Precision in the Canopy: Why drones are often more effective than traditional tractors for tree crops. ● Beyond Spraying: Using drones for seeding, fertilizing, and even transporting your harvest. ● The ROI Factor: Breaking down the costs of ownership versus hiring a service. ● Navigating the Legal Landscape: What you need to know about FAA licensing and regulations. Listen now and join the conversation at unitedchestnuts.com! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Explore More from United Chestnuts * Main Website: unitedchestnuts.com [https://unitedchestnuts.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes [https://unitedchestnuts.com/podcasts/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies [https://unitedchestnuts.com/united-chestnuts-blog/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You [https://unitedchestnuts.com/ebb-farms/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer]

Welcome to The Chestnut Blueprint

While much of American agriculture is stuck in debt and overproduction, a quiet revolution is growing beneath the canopy of chestnut trees. In this episode, Roger Smith of Prairie Grove Chestnut Growers joins United Chestnuts to share how his network of seven-state growers has broken free from the commodity system — and built a model where farmers are price makers, not price takers. From “street-corner retail” to standardized genetics and cold-chain precision, Smith’s story is proof that specialty crops can rewrite the rules of farm economics. Host Kim Douglass unpacks how Smith and other innovators like Greg Miller and Mike Nave are leading the shift from survival to legacy — and why the chestnut industry’s playbook may hold the blueprint for the future of regenerative specialty farming. Tune in if you’re ready to: * Understand how specialty crops are outpacing commodities * Learn practical steps to reclaim pricing power * Hear what modern cooperatives are doing to protect grower margins * See how small farms can scale through innovation and collaboration For more episodes, insights, and grower resources, visit www.unitedchestnuts.com [https://www.unitedchestnuts.com/] or join the United Chestnuts Community on Facebook and LinkedIn. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Explore More from United Chestnuts * Main Website: unitedchestnuts.com [https://unitedchestnuts.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes [https://unitedchestnuts.com/podcasts/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies [https://unitedchestnuts.com/united-chestnuts-blog/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer] * Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You [https://unitedchestnuts.com/ebb-farms/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=podcast_footer]