The Orchard Report

Summer in Oregon is a big growth period for the hundreds of hazelnut clusters that each tree produces. Hazelnuts increase in size and density during July and August as they enter the final stages of maturation before the fall harvest.

Featured Hazelnut Delights™ Grower: Tom Hammer

When Tom Hammer sold the family business, he decided to fulfill his dream of owning and caring for a working orchard. After spending the nearly a year negotiating to buy property that he'd fallen in love with near the banks of the Willamette River, he successfully transitioned from business owner to full-time hazelnut farmer.

 "I have come to know and love this orchard," he says. "Each row seems to have its own distinct character and personality, and each of the three orchards on the property is quite different, due to  terrain and location."

Tom is currently building roads through the property to improve access during bad weather. He's also considering building his dream home in an area overlooking the river that has beautiful views of the river and Oregon's mountains.

Tom's heartfelt dedication to his new livelihood (along with some good farming luck) has paid off: the last several years have seen some of the  highest annual hazelnut yields in the orchard's history.