What is perennial agriculture?
Most crops are "annual", which means that they live for one season and have to get replanted every year. To replant, farmers must loosen the soil, often by tilling, which (1) releases carbon stored in the soil, (2) destroys microbe communities that support soil health and maximize carbon sequestration, and (3) compresses soil aggregates, leading to increased runoff and erosion.
Perennial crops, on the other hand, remain in the ground year after year, protecting the soil from wind, water, and plow. Local examples of perennial crops include asparagus, elderberries, kernza, and of course, hazelnuts! Farming perennial crops is a great way to transform agricultural land into a carbon sink rather than a source.
How do I use hazelnut oil?
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Food: With a slightly higher smoke point than olive oil (and half of the saturated fat), hazelnut oil can be used anywhere you would use olive oil: sautéing, baking, roasting, etc. Drizzle it over your favorite vegetable before roasting (use asparagus to double up on perennials) and top with chopped hazelnut kernels for an incredibly easy, super elegant side dish. We also love hazelnut oil for baking, where the subtle taste of hazelnuts will elevate your dish and you can avoid using more processed vegetable oils. We also love to use hazelnut oil raw because it retains the most flavor. Check out our show-stopping salad dressing, and this sweet and spicy popcorn. Even easier, get yourself a baguette, dip it in hazelnut oil, and enjoy.
Massage: Whether you're looking for deeper relaxation, hydrated skin, or more sensuality with your partner, use hazelnut oil to enhance your massage experience. Hazelnut oil absorbs cleanly into the skin, reducing friction and relaxing your muscles without leaving you sticky.
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Beauty: With plenty of vitamin E, a low comedogenic index (it will not clog your pores), and high oleic acid, hazelnut oil has been touted as the "liquid gold" of skin and hair care. In fact, beauty companies are selling 3oz bottles of hazelnut oil for $30!
We recommend using hazelnut oil: on your face after you moisturize to lock in the moisture, under your eyes to reduce dark spots, on the tips of your hair to keep them from splitting, as a hair mask to promote hair growth, and on acne scars and stretch marks to reduce discoloration, and on dry skin before you shower. Our philosophy: If you wouldn't eat your beauty products, you might not want them seeping into your skin. |
How do hazelnuts grow?
Hazelnuts grow in shells, wrapped in husks, on bushes! Like this:
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What are your favorite hazelnut recipes?
We've compiled them for you! This page has our absolute favorites: everything from green beans with tahini sauce to hazelnut-crusted salmon to chocolate hazelnut torte. Check out a preview below, and make sure to share your favorite recipes with us @AmericanHazelnutCompany.
HAZELNUT OIL, ROASTED KERNELS Green Beans with Spicy Tahini Sauce"A new staple in my house! They're so good and easy!"
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Hazel Honey Ice Cream"Nothing makes me feel fancier than drizzling hazelnut oil on my ice cream"
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What sets the Midwest hazelnut industry apart?
The hazelnut farms in the Midwest look a lot different than those around the world. The difference is due to the hazelnut genetics, the scale of the farms, and the culture around production.
Genetics: The American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) is native to the oak savanna ecosystem that once covered swaths of the Upper Midwest. The crops on our fields are a hybrid variety of this native nut - a smaller, drought resistant, and winter hearty plant. By contrast, growers in the world's hazelnut hotspots like Turkey, Italy, and Oregon's Willamette Valley grow varieties of European hazelnuts. These nuts are larger, and grow with bitter, flakey skins that bakers recommend removing.
Cultivation norms: In Oregon, hazelnuts are harvested by shaking the trees vigorously.
The This was the inspiration for the Midwest hazelnut industry: to restore our land with a climate-friendly crop that belongs on the landscape – a pretty unique ethos for industrial producers to have.
but this is not where most of the world's hazelnuts grow.
Most of the world's hazelnuts grow in Turkey, followed by Italy and the United States (where 99% of production takes place in Oregon's Willamette Valley). But hazelnut production looks a lot different in the Midwest. The aforementioned hazelnut hotspots cultivate European varieties of hazelnuts. The difference is largely due to the plant variety used. In the US, most hazelnuts grow in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Hazelnut production in these locations looks a lot different than production in the Midwest. This is largely due to differences in plant genetics.
I. Different plant variety (european vs american). bush.
ii.
Genetics: The American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) is native to the oak savanna ecosystem that once covered swaths of the Upper Midwest. The crops on our fields are a hybrid variety of this native nut - a smaller, drought resistant, and winter hearty plant. By contrast, growers in the world's hazelnut hotspots like Turkey, Italy, and Oregon's Willamette Valley grow varieties of European hazelnuts. These nuts are larger, and grow with bitter, flakey skins that bakers recommend removing.
Cultivation norms: In Oregon, hazelnuts are harvested by shaking the trees vigorously.
The This was the inspiration for the Midwest hazelnut industry: to restore our land with a climate-friendly crop that belongs on the landscape – a pretty unique ethos for industrial producers to have.
but this is not where most of the world's hazelnuts grow.
Most of the world's hazelnuts grow in Turkey, followed by Italy and the United States (where 99% of production takes place in Oregon's Willamette Valley). But hazelnut production looks a lot different in the Midwest. The aforementioned hazelnut hotspots cultivate European varieties of hazelnuts. The difference is largely due to the plant variety used. In the US, most hazelnuts grow in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Hazelnut production in these locations looks a lot different than production in the Midwest. This is largely due to differences in plant genetics.
I. Different plant variety (european vs american). bush.
ii.
If you grow hazelnuts sustainably in the Midwest, we'd love to talk! Fill out our contact form here and we'll reach out to discuss. If you are looking for resources to help you start growing hazels, the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative is a good place to start. Once your plants bear nuts, we will work together to provide processing and a market.
Where can I buy hazelnuts?
Are hazelnuts healthy?
Yes! Hazelnuts are a superb combination of protein, healthy fats, and nutrients that are associated with heart health, muscle repair, and a reduced cancer risk. While most nuts are considered healthy, hazelnuts are particularly coveted for their vitamin E, folate, B vitamins, and fat profile.
Where do hazelnuts grow?
American Hazelnut Company farms are located across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, but our local industry is still fledgeling. About 99% of domestic hazelnut production happens in Oregon, where they cultivate a European hazelnut variety (see What sets the Midwest hazelnut industry apart?). Worldwide, the US ranks third for hazelnut production, with 70% of supply coming from Turkey, and 20% from Italy.
Several varieties of hazelnuts grow wild around the world. The American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) spans across the eastern half of the United States and Canada, including the Upper Midwest. Most AHC farmers grow a hybrid variety of the American Hazelnut. The Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) grows across most of Europe into Asia, while the Beaked Hazelnut (Colylus cornuta) grows along the northern US border and Pacific Northwest. Large Filberts (Corylus maxima) are native to southeastern Europe and western Asia.
Several varieties of hazelnuts grow wild around the world. The American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) spans across the eastern half of the United States and Canada, including the Upper Midwest. Most AHC farmers grow a hybrid variety of the American Hazelnut. The Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) grows across most of Europe into Asia, while the Beaked Hazelnut (Colylus cornuta) grows along the northern US border and Pacific Northwest. Large Filberts (Corylus maxima) are native to southeastern Europe and western Asia.
What is the history of the American Hazelnut Company?
In the 2000s, a group of ecologically-minded farmers started planting hazelnuts as a way to steward their land while feeding their communities. They started meeting annually at a conference to share knowledge and resources, and quickly started to envision began to conceptualize all that they could accomplish if they worked together, not just regarding processing efficiencies and marketing costs, but in terms of recruiting growers and building an industry that could act as a climate solution and transform agriculture in the Midwest. realized that, by working together, they could accomplish more by working together, sharing the costs of processing, and and building a and As their bushes developed and they waited the long five years for the nuts to arrive, they started to conceptualize a , , they realized the positive impact a hazelnut industry could have in diversifying Midwest agriculture on a larger scale, and how much further they could get working together. and started bearing nuts, By 2014, enough of their plants had nuts. But the work really begins five years later, when the bushes start to bear nuts. Between the equipment needed to remove the husks, crack the shells, and turn them into products, we realized that we needed to work together if we wanted this to be a viable industry, and motivated by what it could mean for the planet and our communities if hazelnuts became a larger industry. . , not to mention marketing and sales. In 2014, a group of farmers realized that they were going to need to work together farmers joined together In But when the hazels started growing nuts, it became obvious In 2014, a cohort of these growers came together. By 2014, it was clear that . Hazelnuts are tough to process, with both shells and husks getting in the way. You have to remove the husks, then the shells. And not a lot of people eat hazelnuts, or know that they grow in the Midwest. This was a job for teamwork.
Qs: When did hazelnuts become a commercial crop
started meeting every year to share knowledge
2014 hazelnut conference
formed business
using kcc started pressing nuts for oil
New products came along: flour and hazelsnackers developed by northland college
today
Qs: When did hazelnuts become a commercial crop
started meeting every year to share knowledge
2014 hazelnut conference
formed business
using kcc started pressing nuts for oil
New products came along: flour and hazelsnackers developed by northland college
today
How can I see your really fun instagram?
Right here, my friend: @AmericanHazelnutCompany
Bonus! Here's our Facebook page too: @Hazelmania
Welcome to the community!
Bonus! Here's our Facebook page too: @Hazelmania
Welcome to the community!
What is the best way to store my products?
All of our products will last until the best by date in the pantry, but if you're looking to extend the shelflife, here's what we recommend:
Hazelnut Oil: Store in the fridge after opening. Keep out of direct sunlight.
Roasted Hazelnuts: Store in the freezer, then roast for 10 minutes on 300° before eating (for max flavor and crunch).
Hazelnut Flour: Store in the freezer.
HazelSnackers: We find that getting these to last long is hopeless. Your best chance is to store them out of reach. Keeping them in a cool place will help too.
Hazelnut Oil: Store in the fridge after opening. Keep out of direct sunlight.
Roasted Hazelnuts: Store in the freezer, then roast for 10 minutes on 300° before eating (for max flavor and crunch).
Hazelnut Flour: Store in the freezer.
HazelSnackers: We find that getting these to last long is hopeless. Your best chance is to store them out of reach. Keeping them in a cool place will help too.