Puffin Farms

Puffin Farm has been in operation for only 10 years, growing high quality, fresh chestnuts.  You can buy fresh,  Dunstan chestnuts online now. We are located in High Springs,  Florida in the land of the Dunstan Chestnuts, a cross between the American Chestnut and the Chinese Chestnut.  The Chinese Chestnut trees are smaller than the American variety, have more branches and look similar to an apple tree.  American Chestnut trees, on the other hand are adapted to forest conditions, with wide, straight trunks that can reach up to 100 feet tall, in order to reach the sun light, and its nuts are smaller, about the size and shape of a flattened cherry. 

Dr Dunstan, at the University of Florida first crossbreed The Dunstan Chestnut trees.  Our Chestnuts are large and sweet, perfect for roasting over an open fire, cooking for Christmas classic meals or other meals.  We at Puffin Farm grow our chestnuts free of pesticides.

Our chestnuts are harvested daily, cleaned, sorted and then cooled to 33 degrees to ensure freshness.  Our product will be offered seasonally, from September until November or until we are sold out.    History of the American Chestnut tree:

American chestnut tree, long celebrated for its cabinet grade wood, its meaty nuts and its widespread branches that shaded Longfellow’s village smithy, was struck by a deadly blight in 1904, and by the end of World War 11 had disappeared from the country’s forests.  About 4 billion chestnut trees fell victim to this blight from Maine to Florida and devastated people’s livelihoods and the local culture.  Everything that lived in the woods ate chestnuts, including grouse, blue jays, turkeys, white tailed deer, black bears and squirrels. 

People who lived in flatlands didn’t depend on the chestnut, but those who lived in the steep slopes of the Appalachians relied heavily on the tree.  They sent their animals out to feed on fallen chestnuts every fall, and used its wood for everything from cradles to coffins.

Chestnuts are delicious and healthy foods, containing about 40% carbohydrates and 2 to 3 % in fats, along with 5 to 10% high quality protein and no cholesterol.  Chestnuts can be prepared by cutting an X on the flat portion of the nut to open the Chestnut shell.  They can be cooked in the microwave for one minute on high, roasted or for 10 to 15 minutes.   Chestnut dressing with turkey is a holiday tradition and are wonderful in soups, stews, and with vegetables, or in deserts such as pastries, tortes and ice cream. 

Chestnut flour adds a rich, sweet flavor in cakes, breads and pasta.  Chestnut puree, blended with butter and whipping cream, can be spiced and used with main dishes, or sweetened with honey and topped with sweet whipped cream for the traditional European dessert called “Mont Blanc.”