A new company is gearing up to process and market hazelnuts grown in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. American Hazelnut Company is a collaborative of hazelnut growers in the four states, and will develop specialized processing equipment, cultivate markets for various hazelnut products, and determine strategies for the future.
Surveys have revealed that hybrid hazelnuts are being developed by nearly 200 growers in the region.
Hazelnut kernels, oils, and meal can be used in a broad range of food products like edible oils, spreadable nut butters, nut flours, and confections.
The company will soon begin to sort and crack nuts at Forest Agriculture Enterprises in Viroqua, Wisc. Finished products will be packaged at the Kickapoo Culinary Center in Gays Mills, Wisc.
Funding for start-up operations will come from grower investors and a Something Special from Wisconsin grant, provided by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Hazelnut hybrids have been under development by commercial and academic researchers for more than 25 years. That work, in 2009, resulted in a formal collaboration, the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative.
Researchers say they are just beginning to explore the diversity of American hazelnut populations, and that there may be as many variations in flavor and color as there are with wine.
Smaller kernels of American hazelnut and hybrids with European hazelnut are also popular in trail mixes, nut clusters and other products. Besides food uses, the shells, husks, oils and wood may become feed stocks for bioenergy plants.
