Many parts of Australia offer ideal conditions for growing hazelnuts and our industry – while still small – has strong prospects for growth. Approximately 544 tonnes of in-shell hazelnuts were produced by local growers in 2024 with a farm gate value of $5.5 million farm gate and around 3,500 tonnes are imported each year (primarily from Turkey), highlighting the fantastic potential of hazelnuts as a crop for a diversified farm or as a sole venture.
As new orchards come into commercial production the volume of Australian hazelnuts grown each year is expected to increase. With the recent opening of a dedicated hazelnut processing facility at Wangaratta in Victoria, we now have the supply chain infrastructure in place to meet the demands of large food producers seeking Australian grown produce and for our industry to achieve its potential. For more information, see the Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 23-24 – Nuts.
Where are hazelnuts grown in Australia?
Hazelnut trees require a minimum number of chill hours per year to grow and yield successfully, with orchards mainly located in the temperate areas of south-eastern Australia. This includes the Central Tablelands of New South Wales around Orange, the northeast Victoria around Myrtleford as well as central and eastern Victoria, and increasingly in northern Tasmania – with a small levels of production in South Australia and Western Australia. Many hazelnut operations are small (a few hundred trees) but newer orchards are often significant larger (up to 10,000 trees). Most orchards are family operated enterprises.
Because Australia is free from serious pests and diseases, hazelnuts are produced with little use of herbicides and pesticides, with some Australian growers producing organically certified hazelnuts. Australian hazelnut production is well supported by research, leading to improved, more efficient and sustainable production systems. Hazelnuts generally take seven to 10 years to come into commercial production. In addition to the information resources made accessible to HGA members, Agrifutures Australia and Plant Health Australia also provide useful online resources about the hazelnut industry and growing hazelnuts.
Where are Australian hazelnuts sold?
Australian hazelnuts are sold in-shell or as kernel (without the shell) online, at farmers’ markets, fruit shops, health food shops and co-operatives. Some producers value-add to their kernels by making confectionery and health food products, hazelnut oil, flour and meal. Locally-grown kernel is sought-after by restaurants, confectioners and patisseries because of the fresh taste of the local product compared to imported kernel. Domestic consumption of in-shell hazelnuts is about 300 tonnes a year, and hazelnut kernel around 2,000 tonnes (equivalent to 4,500 tonnes in-shell). Our website provides information on where to buy Australian hazelnuts including online.