BUTTE COUNTY — November 7, 2026. The county’s regulated walnut buying period began November 1, following the completion of the Chandler walnut harvest. Agricultural Commissioner Katharine Quist announced the start of the season and reminded non-processing buyers that county rules apply to the purchase, transportation and identification of walnuts.

Why the county regulates buying

Butte County adopted a revised nut-theft ordinance in 2014 to discourage theft and help establish legitimate ownership when unprocessed walnuts change hands. The ordinance sets procedures for commercial transactions and transport, rather than treating every roadside purchase as automatically authorized.

The scale of the local industry

According to the county’s 2025 Crop and Livestock Report, walnuts were its highest-valued agricultural commodity, representing more than 51,000 harvested acres and about $178 million in market value. The county says the opening of the buying window is determined with input from a committee of growers.

Farmers and buyers should review the Agricultural Commissioner’s notice and ordinance link to understand documentation and movement requirements before arranging a transaction. The announcement does not establish a current per-pound price or guarantee buyers for any specific crop.

Source: Butte County Agricultural Commissioner, October 28, 2026.

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