After truffles and goose, walnuts now have their own day of celebration in Sarlat.

Local produce and agricultural expertise will be showcased on Sunday, July 20, at the Noyeraies du Lander, during the first festival dedicated to nuts.

After truffles and goose, Sarlat (Dordogne) will pay homage to walnuts. The Noyeraies du Lander are organizing their first market dedicated to nuts on Sunday, July 20 (1).

Located on the outskirts of town, on the Montignac road, the estate belonged to the Aussel family for three generations before being taken over at the end of 2022 by two childhood friends, Paul Dieudonné and Damien Peboscq. The latter specializes in agricultural production while the former comes from the family that has owned the Veyssière mill in Neuvic since 1857. Renowned for its oil production, the family business has also become a producer: "On the 50 ha estate, we operate around fifteen," explains Paul Dieudonné.

The cultivation of the Franquette variety is complemented by a trading activity, with the purchase of the harvest from small local producers then transformed into walnut or hazelnut oil thanks to a mill established on the estate.

Like many others in the area, the Noyeraies du Lander suffered after the violent storm of June 25. While only a few walnut trees were uprooted here, Paul Dieudonné estimates that he lost "between 10 and 20% of the harvest" due to hail. We await possible future impacts on production.

Yet another reason to come support the industry. And learn more about it through all the activities taking place on Sunday (see below). These activities aren't limited to nuts, but include other local expertise, such as the discovery of bees and truffles.

A day also dedicated to gourmet delights with a duck cutting and cooking workshop at 12:30 p.m., hosted by Maison Pélégris in Les Farges, which will precede a 100% local meal based around dishes from local producers. On the menu, duck tapas and the Péricroque (2), the Périgord croque-monsieur by Louis Festa, chef of the restaurant Les Singuliers in Saint-Astier . The dish, which revisits this brasserie staple in high-end street food style, was created a few months ago by the young chef, who does not put it on the menu but offers it at special events. Among the ingredients: candied and breaded pork loin, mayonnaise with walnut oil and pesto with arugula and fresh walnuts. Enough to make your mouth water already.

Please note for those who were not there that the walnut groves can be visited all year round.

(1) From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Impasse du Lander. Free entry, farmers' market, Les Vieilles Périgourdines agricultural equipment exhibition, wooden play area for children, etc. More information at noyeraiesdulander.fr.

(2) Around fifteen euros with a dessert.