chestnut news. is a specialist in sweet chestnuts he hopes his creations will restore the reputation that chestnuts once had before they were replaced by potatoes. said that of both of them in the past the chestnut was the main staple for the people here in certain periods it helped them survive. it was really the potato of the people. and indeed the chestnut is experiencing a kind of renaissance here demand in france is so high that the round brown nuts have to be imported in this chestnut rich region many farmers are starting to abandon cattle for chestnuts. a friend of mine sold his cows he planted chestnuts and is now raising chickens that grow in the shade of the