Global Usage: 60% of hazelnuts go directly into chocolates, confections, and baked goods as premium ingredients. A steep rise in dairy-alternatives has accelerated demand for hazelnuts for milk, plant-based cheeses, gluten-free hazelnut flour, and high-fiber protein powder derivatives. Consumers are seeking clean label, sustainably sourced, nutrient-dense options rich in vitamins and healthy monounsaturated fats. And hazelnut oil is trending in skin care and cosmetics due to its hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.

Nearly two decades of focused effort by research and collaboration teams at the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative (UMHDI) brings the Midwest Hazelnut crop and industry to an expected tipping point. Early adopter small acreage growers and hobbyist farmers led the way through years of field research trials. Finally, commercial production orchards can now be planted, and the long-awaited arrival of access for Midwest farm families to engage a new and valuable crop has arrived. 

By commercial design from the beginning, the next stage is ready for creating the demand that will come from harvested hazelnut orchard crops, supplied by this newly emerged Midwest regional agriculture economy. 

Hazelnuts are revered in snacks and foods worldwide. The development and launch of consumer brands and industrial food ingredients creates the transition for Wisconsin and Minnesota crops to reach the local, regional, national, and global stage.

Overview of the Commercial Development

·  Origin and Partners: Launched in 2007 from a partnership between University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Hazelnut Development Fund, the University of Minnesota, and the Savanna Institute, UMHDI has invested nearly two decades to establish the Midwest as the next core sustainable hazelnut production region and industry. 

·  The Adventure® Series: The key to the industry expansion lies in the 2026 release of the Adventure® Series of hazelnut hybrid orchard plantings. The series of 5 cold-hardy, disease resistant cultivars are now available for sale to new farmer/growers, as the commercial production orchards are planted. 

Advancements in tissue propagation have accelerated greenhouse plantings. Multiple contract nursery partnerships are growing the plants.  And the growing network of Go-First farms who have signed on to build their fields has laid the groundwork needed for expansion by UMHDI. The plants are grown, provided and sold by Midwest Hazelnuts, LLC, to meet the stated UMHDI goal of 9M plants on 20,000 new commercial hazelnut orchard acres in Minnesota and Wisconsin by 2031.  

·  Genetics and Hardiness: Until now, the small region of Oregon’s Willamette Valley has grown 95% of the U.S. hazelnut supply, using the same European hazelnut cultivars grown in countries like Turkey and Chile. At 92,000 acres, U.S. production is just 5% of global production. The Midwest now arrives as the second major growing region. Why here? Unlike Pacific Northwest orchards using the disease-sensitive European hazelnuts, that are susceptible to the tree-killing Eastern Filbert Blight, the Midwest initiative was created to develop cold-hardy hybrid hazelnuts varieties (crosses of native American and European varieties) that survive extreme cold and resist Eastern Filbert Blight. 

The cold-hardy American hazelnut has been growing wild throughout Wisconsin since the departure of the last glaciers. As a wild shrub, the nut production was too low and not able to be commercialized.  So the 2007 work began to cross the American and European varieties together, at first with stem cutting trials. Now, after almost two decades, the Advantage hybrids are ready for orchards to bring the vital new regenerative crop at a time when the world consumer is asking for nutrition-packed hazelnut ingredients more than ever.

·  Commercial Viability: The global hazelnut market is expanding rapidly, in a fast-growing agricultural sector heavily dictated by extreme weather shifts worldwide. We happen to live in one of the most desirable and suitable weather, soil, and water climates for hazelnuts to thrive. The market is valued at $11B with expectations to climb to $17B t0 $25B by the early 2030’s. Research shows an enticing Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6% to 9% across global reports.