Huron County's Economic Development Department is promoting hazelnuts as a new crop for the county.
Economic Development Officer Alex Ripley says their research shows there is a gap in the market and the trees will grow in Huron County.
But he says they also understand people like to see a demonstration of something before they take the risk on a new crop.
“People who have put in some hazelnut trees and are now on their second or third year and we've partnered with a grower who has some trees in the ground and we're going to show those trees off to people. We're going to show them what a young hazelnut orchard here in Huron County looks like in its second or third year of growth,” explained Ripley.
Ripley explains the challenge for hazelnut trees in Huron County isn't temperature as it is with some other crops. It's blight.
“Most of the North American hazelnut crop, at this point, comes from the Willamette Valley, in Oregon and the varieties that you grow here are different than what you would grow in Oregon because they have to have that higher tolerance for bright,” said Ripley.
Ripley says they're asking people to contact him to register in order to keep the numbers down and comply with public health protocols.
The orchard is in the Seaforth area and anyone interested in joining the group Saturday, August 7th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. can email Ripley at aripley@huroncounty.ca.
