The potential for hazelnut production in Australia to date has been largely underestimated.
Australia imports over 2000 tonnes annually, worth more than $12 million in 2006, so there is a ready market for Australian growers. (The majority of this is shelled hazelnut kernels.)
About 1000 ha of mature orchard would be required to produce 2000 tonnes of in-shell hazelnuts annually but in NSW the area currently planted to hazelnuts is low.
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