A Brief History of

Archaeological excavations show us that hazelnuts have been a resource of early modern humans as far back as 10,000BC, in the mid Stone Age.

Excavations in China uncovered hazelnut shells from pre-history, indicating that the nuts are one of the five sacred foods of that time. Similarly, records of hazelnut shells in middens (kitchen compost piles) in Germany, Scandinavia, and Scotland date back to the Stone Age of 6,000 BCE.

Across different human cultures, hazelnuts have been considered a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, as well as fecundity and fertility, often featured in wedding traditions throughout Northern Europe. You’ll find references to hazelnuts in ancient Greek and Roman writings –the Greek philosopher and botantist Theophrastus (372-287 BC) described the benefits of hazelnuts in his works– and in the Bible, where hazelnuts are lauded for their nutritional and healing powers.

From Gaelic mythology, hazelnuts are said to be the source of wisdom of the heroic figure Fionn Mac Cumhail. Fionn gained wisdom after consuming a salmon that had fed for years on hazelnuts dropping in its pond, before it was caught by a druid who then gave the fish to his student, Fionn.

Two hazelnut species were prevalent in North America:  the beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) and the American hazelnut (Corylus americana). In the forests of British Columbia, the fuzzy leaves and pointed husks of beaked hazelnuts covered the floors of entire valleys. In the early 1900s, the village of Hazelton in the Skeena region of British Columbia was named for the abundance of hazelnuts in the area.

For generations, First Nations tribes in BC passed down stories of hazelnuts as a vital food source their ancestors planted and cultivated.   They utilized the hazelnut tree’s twisted twigs as rope, the stems for weaving baskets, baby carriers and fish traps, and straight shoots were used for arrows.  A new study has revealed that Indigenous peoples in what is now B.C. had been actively transplanting and cultivating the beaked hazelnut for at least 7000 years meaning that First Nations were growing food before ancient Egyptians were planting their wheat fields.  Linguistic evidence shows that the word for “hazelnut” used by the First Nations in northwestern BC was borrowed from the Coast Salish in the south, suggesting a there was possible trade in nuts across the province.

The popularity of hazelnuts spread throughout Europe and Asia. By the Middle Ages, they had become a staple in many households, featured in various recipes and folk remedies. The nut’s versatility and health benefits made it a cherished ingredient across cultures.

European settlers brought domesticated hazel trees to North Americas during the colonial period. In the U.S., hazelnut cultivation took off in the Pacific Northwest, thanks to the region’s ideal growing conditions. The nut’s popularity only grew, finding its way into a variety of culinary delights, from classic pastries to modern gourmet dishes.

The introduction of European hazelnuts to BC began in the 1930s, with the first ‘commercial crops’ being on Vancouver Island and in the Fraser Valley. Early pioneers began experimenting with hazelnut cultivation, recognizing the region’s favorable climate for growing these nuts. Production of hazelnuts was under way in earnest by the early 1950s.

By the 1960s and 1970s, interest in hazelnut farming grew, and more commercial orchards started to emerge. The first significant commercial planting occurred in the 1980s, marking a turning point for the industry. BC farmers, especially in the Fraser Valley and the southern interior, began to refine cultivation techniques and expand their orchards.

In the 1990s, the BC hazelnut industry saw substantial growth, driven by both domestic demand and the rising popularity of specialty nuts. The establishment of organizations like the British Columbia Hazelnut Growers Association (BCHGA) in 2001 provided support and resources for local growers, further boosting the industry.

The hazelnut industry grew until the arrival of the Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) in 2003. Prior to EFB there were 700-800 acres of hazelnuts in the Fraser Valley and annual production yields were 1,100,000 Ibs, worth approximately $1.3 million. With the arrival of the blight, production dropped to below 40,000 Ibs.

Through collaborative research and development of new EFB-resistant cultivars both in Canada and in the US, the industry is making a strong recovery. The BCHGA is working with industry partners to promote and support the revitalization of the hazelnut industry in BC. Local growers continue to innovate and produce larger yields of high-quality nuts.

BC’s hazelnuts are increasingly featured in artisanal chocolates, gourmet baked goods, and other specialty products, with growing demand both locally and globally, highlighting the success and opportunity of this recovering local industry.