An in-depth producer case study profiling Daniel and Rachelle Unruh’s 193-acre Chandler walnut orchard near Princeton, CA. Covers their transition from conventional to regenerative production starting in 2013, driven by an intractable nematode problem, and details their practices: diverse cover crop mixes (including mustard for nematode suppression), no-till, reduced synthetic nitrogen, pheromone mating disruption for codling moths, predatory mite releases for spider mites, integrated sheep grazing, a custom-built roller crimper, and direct marketing development. Includes soil organic matter improvements, input cost reductions, and reflections on profitability over yield.
