NSW DPI researcher, Lester Snare, inspects hazelnuts from the Orange Agricultural Institute trial.

The Australian hazelnut industry is well on the way to proving that from little things, big things grow noNSW DPI researcher, Lester Snare, inspects hazelnuts from the Orange Agricultural Institute trial.w yields from a trial at NSW DPI’s Orange Agricultural Institute have reached levels comparable with those in the USA.

With increasing yields and growing interest from farmers in the Central West, NSW DPI researcher, Lester Snare, said both growers and potential growers benefited from a hazelnut field day held at the Institute earlier this year.

'We’ve been evaluating 24 varieties in the trial and now the trees are ten years old they’re starting to produce yields of more than two tonnes per hectare and they haven’t peaked yet,' Mr Snare said.

'In the next five years we expect the trees to produce significant yield increases and reach their full potential.'

Trial data has rated Tonda di Giffoni, Ennis, Tokolyi Brownfield Cosford and Barcelona as the top-performing varieties with the new Lewis hazelnut from the USA also showing potential.

'But growers should also base variety choice on the markets they aim to access,' he said.

Australia imports more than 2000 tonnes of hazelnuts at an estimated cost of $12 million, while the local industry supplies less than 50 tonnes.

Mr Snare said import replacement offers a market opportunity to the expanding industry.

'Most hazelnuts are used in confectionary production which suits varieties such as Tonda di Giffoni. An increase in local production means manufacturers can source nuts locally and reduce freight costs.

'There’s room for value adding, exporting larger nuts, such as Ennis, to markets in Germany and many growers are direct-selling fresh kernels to baking and restaurant markets.'

In collaboration with the Charles Sturt University data on production levels, site selection, climate and nut varieties has been collected from the trial to determine the potential for local hazelnut production.

Contact: Lester Snare, NSW DPI Orange on 02 6391 3982.

- BERNADETTE YORK

This story appears in Agriculture Today.