Hazelnut

Although its place of origin is known as China in sources, hazelnuts, whose homeland is Anatolia, have been cultivated in our country for approximately 2,500 years. For this reason, our country is the area where the most valuable wild species and the highest quality cultivated varieties sought after in world trade are spread.

Turkey accounts for 65-70% of global hazelnut production and 70-75% of global hazelnut trade, with an annual production of 550-600 thousand tons. Hazelnuts thrive in the Black Sea Region of our country, and are economically cultivated in 15 provinces, primarily Giresun, Trabzon, Sakarya, Samsun, and Bolu.

It is the primary agricultural product of the Eastern Black Sea Region. Additionally, due to its cultivation environment and method, walnut plays a crucial role in protecting steep, shallow-soiled areas from erosion.

Our country, being the homeland of hazelnuts, possesses a rich diversity. The early cultivation of hazelnuts in our country, over time, through natural or producer selection, has led to the development of today's highly valuable varieties. Many types composed of natural materials are still referred to by producers as “wild hazelnuts.”

In different hazelnut-growing regions of our country, varieties such as Tombul, Palaz, Foşa, Mincane, Çakıldak, Kalınkara, Uzunmusa, Kan, Kargalak, Cavcava, Sivri, İncekara, Acı, Huş, Yuvarlak Badem, and Yassı Badem are cultivated with varying intensities. Among these, the round-shaped hazelnuts are particularly suitable for the hazelnut processing industry and are the most widely cultivated varieties.

Hazelnuts are a plant that can grow between latitudes 56° and 41° and requires a specific climate. It is cultivated up to 50 km inland from the coast and at elevations not exceeding 7150-1800 meters. The most important hazelnut cultivation regions in the world are Turkey, Italy, and the United States.

Turkey is among the countries with the most suitable conditions for hazelnut cultivation and production. Almost the entire hazelnut harvest in Turkey is obtained from our Black Sea Region, which has the most suitable soil and climate conditions.

Today, in our country, nearly 300,000 families are engaged in hazelnut cultivation in an area of approximately 600,000 hectares, mainly in the eastern parts of the Black Sea region, and approximately 8 million people earn their livelihood directly or indirectly from hazelnut farming.

Global hazelnut production has been increasing in recent years, reaching approximately 500-600 thousand tons annually. Turkey's share in this production ranges between 65-75%, leading countries such as Italy, Spain, the United States, Greece, and others. Hazelnuts have been known since ancient times as a high-nutrient product that provides strength and vitality to humans.

Hazelnuts are the best known source of vitamin E. This vitamin is essential for the health of the heart and other muscles and the normal functioning of the reproductive system. By preventing the breakdown of red blood cells, it creates a protective effect against anemia, which is common in our country, or neutralizes them after they have formed, thereby protecting against cancer.

The high vitamin E content and low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in walnuts help protect cells, particularly in heart tissue. Walnuts are one of the best sources of calcium, which is necessary for bone and tooth formation, iron, which plays a role in blood production, and zinc, which is involved in the development of growth and sex hormones. They are also rich in potassium, which is necessary for nerve stimulation and muscle function.

In trade, walnuts are available in various forms such as shelled, natural kernels, roasted kernels, bleached kernels, chopped, sliced, flour, paste, and puree. These can be processed in various ways and combined with other additives to produce nearly 50 different products.

Approximately 80% of hazelnuts are used in the chocolate industry for the production of biscuits, candies, sweets, pastries, and ice cream. Hazelnuts not utilized in the domestic market or for export are used for oil production or consumed as snacks.