Midwest Hazelnuts are epic stewards of the land. How does the world change when we plant and eat Midwest Hazelnuts?
- Farms turn into wildlife habitat.
- We swim in cleaner lakes and rivers.
- Carbon is stored in the ground, long term.
- Our food system is more resilient to climate change.
- Farms build up healthy soil.
- We support our local communities.
- Farmers are at the forefront of food.
1. Wildlife on the Farm"The fields come alive when you plant these hazelnuts"
– Jason Fischbach, Hazelnut Researcher When you grow crops that are native to the area, you create wildlife habitat without even trying! Hazelnuts have been growing in the Midwest for 10,000 years, providing peaceful, shady homes for birds, butterflies, and tree frogs. More hazelnuts, more homes, more wildlife! |
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2. Clean Lakes and RiversBy planting hazelnuts, we're naturally filtering the water, protecting our fishy friends and ensuring clean, safe water for everyone. The epic hazelnut root system soaks up excess nutrients like Nitrogen and Phosphorus that pollute lakes and rivers, and holds tightly onto the soil to prevent erosion.
3. More Carbon in the GroundAgriculture is a big source of greenhouse gases, but by growing hazelnuts, we can turn farms from carbon emitters into carbon sinks! Hazelnuts store carbon both in their woody branches, and in the soil. As perennials, hazelnuts will grow again each year without needing to be replanted. This way, the soil stays undisturbed and the carbon stays in the ground. Planting hazelnuts means we're helping to reduce emissions and protect our planet for the long haul.
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4. Climate ResilienceMidwest hazelnut farms are amazingly tough. Over the summer of 2023, the Midwest experienced a record-breaking drought. We were nervous the hazelnuts would suffer, but the harvest turned out to be the biggest yet.
This same toughness shows up during storms. After a heavy rain, it's common to see a neighboring farm flooded and eroding. On a hazelnut farm, much more of the water is absorbed into the soil. As the climate continues to change, it's important that we grow food that can handle these extremes. 5. Building Healthy SoilOn the average acre of cropland in the United States, 4,190 pounds of soil are washed away each year.
Soil needs shelter for protection, just like we do. Midwest hazelnut farms support healthy soil by (1) never requiring tillage, (2) keeping the ground covered with an understory of grasses or wood chips, (3) keeping very deep roots in the ground for decades at a time, and (4) not requiring chemicals. Healthy soil stores more carbon, retains more water, prevents runoff, needs less watering, and responds better to both extreme storms and droughts! |
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6. Keeping It LocalThe hazelnut journey starts on small farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. We then aggregate the hazelnuts at the shelling facility housed at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. The last stop is at our kitchen in Viroqua, Wisconsin, where we make the products. Keeping the supply chain short and local means fresher products and stronger community ties. We grow, process, and sell our hazelnuts right here in the Midwest, cutting down on food miles and supporting our neighbors.
7. Farmers at the frontHazel Heart Farms is proud to be grower-owned. It's all about staying close to home and showing that sustainable farming is not just possible, but profitable too.
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