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I hope Chip wasn't a victim of this ... — Parallax Forums

I hope Chip wasn't a victim of this ...

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
edited 2012-11-21 20:04 in General Discussion
40 tons ($300K worth) of walnuts disappeared in twin heists from northern California (Tehama County):

So far, the nuts have not been located, and rounding up the local mob kingpins for interrogation has not produced any leads.

squirrelmobster.jpg

Seriously, Chip, I hope you haven't suffered any loss as a result of the theft.

-Phil

Comments

  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-11-02 06:21
    Phil, that picture could go far as an advice animal on Reddit.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-11-02 06:28
    I was wondering why Phil had a collection of Squirrel clothes...then I just stopped wondering and moved on.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2012-11-02 06:50
    This case is nuts! But I'm confident they'll crack it shortly.
  • Shawn LoweShawn Lowe Posts: 635
    edited 2012-11-02 07:01
    User Name wrote: »
    This case is nuts! But I'm confident they'll crack it shortly.

    Oh, booo! lol that is funny!
  • JordanCClarkJordanCClark Posts: 198
    edited 2012-11-02 07:58
    User Name wrote: »
    This case is nuts! But I'm confident they'll crack it shortly.

    Obviously, done by the notorious Phil Bert Gang. I heard there wasn't a macedemian in the bunch-- probably didn't even finish high school...
  • jdoleckijdolecki Posts: 726
    edited 2012-11-02 08:10
    Top Secret picture of the basement of Parallax were Chip has Squirrels assembling Propeller 2 boards.

    _41113717_chocs3.jpg
    _41113717_chocs3.jpg
    300 x 250 - 15K
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,400
    edited 2012-11-02 08:10
    That's a few miles away from Chip's place, and it sounds like the walnuts were at a processing facility when they were last seen.

    Theft like this can be a real problem since farmers are paid for their walnut sales in installments through the year. I'll make sure Chip sees this thread.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-11-02 10:43
    Ken Gracey wrote:
    Theft like this can be a real problem since farmers are paid for their walnut sales in installments through the year.
    Yup. The same is true for fishermen who sell their catch through a co-op. Hopefully, if the goods aren't recovered, the only party left holding the bag will be an insurance company.

    One thing I do wonder about, though: when stolen foodstuffs are recovered, are there issues relating to the now-undocumented chain of custody? Although the potential for contamination is low for walnuts, the stolen maple syrup that was recovered in Quebec would seem to raise bigger concerns.

    -Phil
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,400
    edited 2012-11-02 13:26
    Talked to Chip. These were stolen from a processor he had used in the past, right down the road. I've been to this facility before and bought about a thousand pounds of walnuts. My kids sold them for $15/bag during the holiday season a few years ago quite successfully (not as well as they can sell firewood, though - that stuff sells itself!). This area of California produces really high-meat walnuts from the soils and historic flood plains of the Sacramento River. The processor does a bit of fumigation and shell bleaching before they're packaged up for sale. They're often sold to Turkey where they are distributed throughout the middle East for pastries. Apparently a bunch go to different Asian destinations, too. The walnuts I've bought in Hong Kong and Taiwan are undersized, kinda black, and just cruddy compared to what we produce in California.

    Last year Chip switched processors away from the one who experienced the theft, so he's safe.

    Almonds are also heisted from California processors quite often. Last I'd seen a full load of almonds was worth well over $10K.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-11-02 13:31
    Ken Gracey wrote:
    Last year Chip switched processors away from the one who experienced the theft, so he's safe.

    That's good to know, Ken. Thanks for checking.

    -Phil
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-11-02 14:15
    JordanCClark wrote: »
    Obviously, done by the notorious Phil Bert Gang. I heard there wasn't a macedemian in the bunch-- probably didn't even finish high school...

    Actually, my money is on the Brazilians......
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2012-11-02 18:44
    Wow, and just before the Holidays. Prices for nuts are already, well, nuts. Now this will really jack prices up!
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,664
    edited 2012-11-02 21:05
    Lucky about the change of processors!

    Here's a photo of Chip's walnut trees that I took when I had a chance to pass by there last year. This is about 50 paces outside his back door, majestic old trees! There is also a section with young trees, planted closer together in accord with modern ideas about orchard management.
    old_walnuts.jpg
    new_orchard.jpg
    720 x 540 - 302K
    old_walnuts.jpg
    720 x 540 - 284K
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-11-03 03:00
    Just curious...

    So many walnuts would indicate that the stuff was stolen for later resale somewhere.
    And really, that much needs to be offloaded through a processor. Aren't there any controls of any kind in this market?
    (I doubt you can just load up a truck with walnuts, drive to a processor and dump it off on them and get cash payment?)
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2012-11-03 03:56
    Those nuts are probably already on a boat heading west across the Pacific.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-11-03 05:56
    If I end up seeing a campaign commercial in Ohio about some candidate being too tough on nut exports or someone not watching the nations nuts, I'm going to scream!!!! There's still 4 days left for the final push!!

    Get out the vote!!! Save Americas nuts!!!!
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2012-11-03 20:13
    Some of the old walnut stumps are worth a fortune. I have heard of trees cut and the stumps stolen. Its black walnut root stock with english walnut top, or hybrid top.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2012-11-21 20:04
    in re. Diamond Foods, Inc.
    "...the company's share price has fallen by 85% since its peak in September last year, just before claims first began to circulate that payments to walnut farmers were not being booked correctly."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20440230
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