BC hazelnut growers will soon be able to consult a guide that will help them overcome the challenges of establishing an orchard and maximizing their trees’ potential.
Provincial berry and nut specialist Karina Sakalauskas expects the long-awaited BC Hazelnut Production Guide to appear this spring.
Its publication is set to coincide with a fresh crop of grants under the province’s hazelnut replant program.
Victoria announced $300,000 over three years last summer to support growers replacing EFB-diseased trees and those establishing new orchards with EFB-resistant varieties.
The funding saw 42 acres planted with 11,282 EFB-resistant trees last fall in Langley, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Pender Island.
Applications last fall award funding for 3,512 trees on 17 acres in Chilliwack, Summerland, Kelowna and Courtenay this spring. A third intake in March will set the stage for further plantings this fall. The program wraps up in 2020.
“Interest is strong, demand for trees and product are strong,” says Sakalauskas. “The potential is there.” Grower resources, including production budgets, tips for growing hazelnuts and sources of EFB-resistant plants, are also available on the BC Hazelnut Growers Association website [www.bchga.ca].
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