Oregon Orchard
Locally grown and farmer owned, Oregon Orchard believes in the power of the hazelnut! Packed with vitamins and minerals, this little nut gives so many benefits.
With sustainable farming in mind, we work hard maintain an eco-friendly process to harvesting our hazelnuts. Hazelnut trees are self pollinating and bee friendly, making the world a better place all around. Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.
About the Brand
Hazelnut Growers was established in 1983 and has a rich history of evolving to better serve growers and the customers who purchase their hazelnuts. The company has been headquartered in the Willamette Valley of Oregon where 99% of the US Crop is grown due to a perfect climate for orchards.
Over the past decade, another big investment was made in food safety with the addition of a high heat steam Napasol pasteurization unit. Wilco became involved when they merged with Hazelnut Growers of Oregon in 2016. The merger gave Wilco a growing agriculture business to diversify their services to growers, while providing a larger infrastructure and ability to build a new plant for Hazelnut Growers of Oregon. The former Cornelius, Oregon plant closed and relocated to the new, state-of-the-art plant in Donald, Oregon the summer of 2018. Here, the company looks forward to leveraging the efficiencies of the new plant with a high performance team and further strengthen the growing hazelnut industry.
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FAQs
How many years does it take for a newly planted orchard to product a first crop?
There are many variables, but it typically takes 4 years to harvest a crop.
How many acres do you need to plant to make it worth the investment in equipment to harvest and grow hazelnuts?
It takes approximately 30 acres to warrant the investment in expertise and equipment. There are many different custom harvest operations available to growers who plant less than 30 acres. For efficiencies sake, having less than 10 acres in one area can be more of a challenge.
When are hazelnuts typically planted?
Orchards are typically planted in the fall or early winter months.
Why do some orchards have trees planted closer together than others?
Tree spacing is one of the critical variables in good orchard design. Different varieties grow into different size trees which require different spacing for optimum production. In addition row spacing must be compatible with a growers equipment. There are also some orchards planted with a double density to get quicker return from the investment. However, after 9-10 years those orchards will be thinned to remove every other tree as the growing trees begin to crowd each other.
When are trees harvested?
Hazelnuts naturally fall to the ground in September and October depending on seasonality and tree variety. The nuts are then swept into a row and picked up by machine in prep for washing and drying.
Brand Recipes
CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT WAFFLES WITH CINNAMON MASCARPONE
Crisp and tender waffles made with Oregon Orchard Refined Hazelnut Oil, cocoa, and cinnamon.
ZUCCHINI ORANGE BREAD WITH HAZELNUTS
Spiced sweet bread baked with harvest veggies, Extra Virgin Hazelnut Oil, and Dry Roasted Diced Hazelnuts.
APPLE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH HAZELNUT BROWN BUTTER
A puree of root veggies and apple roasted with Oregon Orchard Refined Hazelnut Oil, this autumnal soup is smooth and complex.
HAZELNUT SPICE GRANOLA
A sweet, crunchy, homemade granola with rolled oats, dried fruits, and Oregon Orchard Natural Sliced Hazelnuts dressed with warm spices and Extra Virgin Hazelnut Oil.
BLACKBERRY ARUGULA SALAD WITH HAZELNUTS
Topped with sliced scallions, tangy gruyere cheese crumbles and toasted Oregon Orchard Natural Sliced Hazelnuts.
CITRUS BAKED SALMON
Marinated salmon fillets nestled and baked among sliced sweet potatoes and red onions tossed in Oregon Orchard Refined Hazelnut Oil.
