SALEM, Ore. — Hazelnut growers in Oregon were anticipating a record-high crop in 2018, although it appears the harvest is coming in short of expectations.
The Capital Press reported Monday that the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service predicted 52,000 tons of hazelnuts in August, which would have beaten the previous record of 49,500 tons in 2001.
Instead, local processors say they are looking at between 46,000 to 48,000 tons, which is higher than last year’s 32,000 tons but still not on par with increases in handling capacity.
Larry George, president and CEO of George Packing Company in Newberg, said he doesn’t know exactly why hazelnut yields did not meet record forecasts.
He said it looks like one of the primary new nut varieties, called Jefferson, did not perform as well as previously thought when the orchards were planted in 2007.
George said it is also possible growers harvested fewer early season orchards due to low prices caused by economic turmoil overseas, including Chinese tariffs and currency devaluation in Turkey, the world’s leading producer of hazelnuts.
“We’ll know in a few weeks,” he said.
Whatever the explanation, a lesser hazelnut crop doesn’t bode well for processors such as George Packing Company, which has invested millions of dollars to increase capacity.
Hazelnut acreage has approximately doubled in Oregon over the past decade, up to 72,353 acres, spurred by varieties such as Jefferson, Yamhill and McDonald that are resistant to Eastern Filbert Blight.
With the growth in acreage, George said there was a rush to expand alongside the orchards. Nearly all U.S. commercial hazelnuts are grown in Oregon, and George Packing Company is the industry’s largest processor and marketer.
Patrick Gabrish, vice president of sales and marketing for Hazelnut Growers of Oregon, said he’s not overly concerned about lower yields.
