U.S. Hazelnut Production
Did you know that 99 percent of the nation’s hazelnuts are produced in Oregon state? While the hazelnut industry Oregon only supplies a very small percentage of the global supply, they are benefiting from the severe frosts and hails that hit Turkey earlier this year which cut that country’s hazelnut production by up to two-thirds and prices there have doubled. Turkey produces about 70 percent of the world’s hazelnuts. I spoke with Oregon hazelnut grower Brenda Frketich about this year’s prices due to the Turkey’s weather problems.Frketich: “With that amount of loss throughout the world, we are experiencing a huge demand for our product — which is great. We’re seeing some insanely high prices. The price right now is $1.70 a pound — which is huge and definitely a record breaker.”
She says that last year’s price was around $1.20 a pound which had been the record high price prior to this year. In 2012 the price was around 85 cents a pound. Frketich explains why Oregon has a perfect climate for hazelnuts.
Frketich: “It is amazing here is the Williamette Valley we have a very specific microclimate that we don’t get as cold in the winter so the pollination period — which happens in the winter time — is really great for the trees here. So we have a very special area here that we can grow these trees very well.”