2023 Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference

The 2023 Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference is fast approaching and we have perhaps the greatest nut show on earth coming to beautiful Decorah Iowa. 

Things kick off on Wednesday, March 1^st at 6:00 pm with the first of our “Voices Beyond the Midwest” conversations.  Hazelnut grower Piper Hale, growing near Yakima Washington will share with us what growers in this almost desert like landscape deal with.  Piper and growers in his neck of the woods, are adding hazelnuts to their operations and using grape and olive harvesters to mechanize the harvest.  They are bucking the Oregon model and focusing on organic markets to differentiate themselves.  Learn about hazelnut production beyond the Midwest and how they have tackled issues like aggregation, processing, and more.  Don’t miss this fascinating look into production of hazelnuts outside the Midwest.

The second of our “Voices Beyond the Midwest” conversations is with hazelnut grower John Kelsey of West Virginia.  A retired automation engineer, John has been planting all sorts of different genetics testing out various cultivars for growers in Appalachia.  John has done some important work with tracking pollination and writing up some excellent articles and information on male catkins and female flowers and pollination.  Join us at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 2^nd for a conversation with John Kelsey.

The Winneshiek County Fairgrounds located at 900 E Main St. will be the location for our Conference Kick off on Friday, March 3^rd.  We’ll start things off with a processing open house from 3:00 to 5:00 pm and then come back after supper for show-n-tell from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Growers will be given 10 minutes to share with the group anything about their operation.  Contact Jeff Jensen at jjensen@treesforever.org to schedule your 10 minute time slot.

The BIG EVENT takes place Saturday, March 4^th at the Hotel Winneshiek starting at 9:00 am.  We have a fantastic line up of speakers from Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin and more.  The final of our “Voices Beyond the Midwest” conversations is with Linda Grimo of Grimo Nut Nursery all the way from Canada.  She will give us an update on the hazelnut industry in Ontario and share her experiences working with growers all over North America.

Presentations on genetics, new cultivars, a growers panel, and more is in store for participants.  The Hazelnut Grower of the Year will be awarded over lunch to recognize a distinguished hazelnut grower from the region so don’t miss the greatest nut show on earth Saturday, March 4^th!

You will be sent the webinar invitation link for Wednesday, March 1^st and Thursday, March 2^nd after registering. 

Registration is $50 and includes lunch on Saturday. Please indicate a meat, vegetation, or vegan meal when you register

Are you a farm or organization that would want to exhibit? Cost is $100 for a table and includes one paid registration. Select your options below.

Registration is now closed