Oregon's organic hazelnuts are having a moment, and it's happening faster than anyone expected. In just six months, the Oregon Organic Hazelnut Collective (OOHC) has turned a modest USDA grant into major market momentum, introducing this locally grown speciality crop to chefs, consumers, and international audiences alike. From professional kitchens to large-scale tasting events, more people are discovering the bright, fresh flavor of Oregon's organic hazelnuts, often for the very first time.

Grass seed farmers in the Waldo Hills, heading up toward Silver Creek Falls State Park, have been visibly struggling the last couple of years. With seed contracts drying up, many fields have gone unplanted. When 5 acres of former foundation seed ground came available, I decided to use the industry downcycle to run an experiment.

We have made it our aim to build the best, most biologically diverse, functional and resilient soil possible in our orchard. With soil health at the center, we make all our practical on site decisions, regarding farming practices and inputs.

Annual member meeting re-cap

Check out these photos from Summer Tour 2023

The 2023 OOHC Summer Tour was the best one yet! We hosted over 100 organic hazelnut enthusiasts from all over the state and even outside the U.S. to learn about the opportunities and mission of Oregon Organic Hazelnuts.

Organic Hazelnut growers operate under two different sets of marketing regulations – USDA Marketing Order 982 and the National Organic Program. Both programs apply to “handlers”, however, the way handler is defined in each of the two programs is slightly different. This write-up is intended to clarify what it means to be a handler in each of these programs.