Virginia Project Focuses on Improving Efficiency of Black Walnut Sap Extraction

A Virginia producer of black walnut syrup received a grant from Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) to explore ways to improve the efficiency of sap extraction from black walnut trees. The black walnut sap is used to make syrup, for which demand significantly exceeds supply. The sap from black walnut trees flows out slower than sugar maple sap, so Will Shepherd of Tonoloway Farm has been testing vacuum assisted methods of extraction to provide sap for more syrup. Preliminary research showed that a 5/16″ tube size combined well with a vacuum pump, while 3/16″ gravity lines are a good candidate for small-scale operations. Additional, ongoing work under this grant is focused on developing a grading system for black walnut syrup based on flavor profiles.
Related ATTRA publication: Maple Sugaring: An Introduction to Small-Scale Commercial Production