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B5 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 No romance here Oregon hazelnut growers look to penetrate new export markets By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Oregon’s hazelnut indus- try is looking to expand beyond its traditional export market in n ortheast China and gain a better foothold in other Asian countries as well. A new research export initiative overseen by the Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board will examine improv- ing the crop’s reach into China while better penetrat- ing markets in Japan, South Korea and India. The study will also ana- lyze ramping up exports into Canada, which is already the second-largest destina- tion for Oregon hazelnuts behind China. “The potential is quite remarkable to access con- sumers around the world. It’s going to yield long-term benefi ts for all the growers and packers in the region,” said Jeff Nawn, whose North Hill Group consulting fi rm will conduct the analy- sis. “For the industry, it’s the right time to do this type of work.” Of the 18,000 metric tons of Oregon hazelnuts exported last year, nearly 80% were shipped to China and most of the rest to Can- ada, with nominal amounts destined for other countries. Oregon’s total annual pro- duction has averaged more than 37,000 metric tons in recent years. Japan and South Korea are attractive potential markets because they’re wealthy countries that already consume hazelnuts incorporated into high-end chocolates, and Oregon has strong “brand equity” in both nations, Nawn said. “Oregon has the image of being very clean, natural, wholesome,” he said. India, meanwhile, has the “largest collection of vege- tarians in the world” whose wages are rising and who are looking for new sources Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press Hazelnuts are swept into rows in preparation for harvest. The Oregon hazelnut industry is looking to expand export opportunities beyond its traditional market in northeast China. of protein, he said. Canada is a close neigh- bor that offers an opportu- nity to maximize “bang for the buck” in terms of mar- keting, but current exports are dominated by one con- fectionary company, Nawn said. While China is already an important market for Oregon hazelnuts, most shipments end up in Bei- jing and surrounding areas, he said. It may be possible to enlarge the Oregon indus- try’s footprint to include other major metropoli- tan areas in China, where in-shell hazelnuts could similarly be eaten as a snack food, he said. “Even though it’s a nice market for hazelnuts, it could be better with some strategic marketing work,” Nawn said. Last year, Chinese tariffs on Oregon in-shell hazel- nuts — the most popu- lar type consumed there — jumped from 25% to 65% due to the ongoing trade dis- pute with the U.S. The tariff hike con- vinced Oregon’s industry to look for ways to increase sales despite the higher bar- rier while also diversify- ing beyond the Chinese export market, said Mere- dith Nagely, manager of the Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board. “Tariff mitigation was the impetus for it,” she said. The trade turbulence comes at a time of looming growth in Oregon’s hazel- nut production, as acreage has grown from fewer than 30,000 acres to roughly 85,000 in the past decade. Between 2007 and 2015, growers focused on planting varieties meant for produc- ing the in-shell hazelnuts that are popular in China, said Larry George, president of the George Packing Co. More recently, packers have been urging growers to plant more cultivars meant for the production of kernels that can be used by domestic food manufacturers, George said. However, the industry is “just barely starting to see production increase now” of the kernel varieties, so it needs to focus on widen- ing sales channels for the in-shell nuts that represent the bulk of new production, he said. “We’re trying to develop those markets fi rst,” George said. “It takes years to develop markets.” The Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board is pay- ing for the export research initiative with about half of the $385,000 it recently received in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Trade Promotion Program. The study is intended to pave the way for the Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board to receive export-oriented funding more regularly through the USDA’s Mar- ket Access Program, Nagely said. “For us, we hope it will help our industry build sales,” she said. “We want to improve our presence and know where our processors should be moving into new markets.” Dear Annie: A few years come over to help me with ago, I moved into a duplex some job John would nor- owned by an old college mally have been able to do.) friend of mine, “Robby,” But when the affl iction is and his wife. During this mental, we can’t mention it. time, I became very close It seems our No. 1 responsi- friends with Robby’s wife. bility is to cover up for the Earlier this year I moved ill person. We’re supposed out. Around this same time, to sacrifi ce our social life, Robby’s wife told him that peace of mind and integ- she was thinking of divorce. rity to keep up appearances. The wife pretty much (Which, incidentally, may stopped talking to also help him/her me once I moved put off recognizing DEAR out of the residence. the need for profes- ANNIE sional help.) — Sick However, Robby of Secrets and I remained close Dear Sick of friends. Since then, Secrets: You raise Robby has contin- great points. Keep- ued to confi de in me ing such issues a about their marriage family secret serves and their potential divorce. He started ANNIE LANE no one. It enables Creators the affl icted per- calling and texting Syndicate Inc. son to keep up the all the time. One unhealthy behavior, night when we were out, he told me he should and it leaves the other family have married me and was members feeling stressed, in love with me. I have no isolated and alone. That romantic interest in my doesn’t mean one should friend. How do I get him go shouting from the roof- to understand this? — Con- tops about a loved one’s dis- orders, of course. However, fused in Ohio Dear Confused: Have there should be no sense you tried telling him? That’s of shame in opening up to a good place to start. Be friends. Dear Annie: I could direct: “I have no interest in you romantically.” Empha- have written the letter from size how much you value “Never Enough” when I was him as a friend, but let him younger. In my 30s, I, too, know that if he doesn’t quit had everything I thought I it with the love talk, you’ll needed for happiness. Yet I need to take a break from found myself crying on the seeing him and talking to porch of “the right house,” him on the phone. Until married to “the right man,” you’ve stamped out every raising three young children last ember of hope, he’ll in a community where I was keep stoking the potential accepted. I found the answer to my emptiness and depres- fl ame. Dear Annie: In response sion by turning my search to “Married to a Hoarder”: inward. I have discovered The guy is apparently ready that it is absolutely true. We (fi nally) to let his son see his are more than a body that mother’s illness. But also houses a mind and will; we he’s still going to suffer the are, at our cores, spiritual embarrassment of not being beings. To be fully alive, able to host other relatives we have to recognize our and having no explanation need for spiritual growth. The next material thing that for why he can’t. Can’t he just say, “I’m we acquire will never sat- sorry, we’d love to have you isfy our innermost longing. stay with us, but unfortu- “Never Enough” will never nately my wife is a hoarder buy his way to inner peace. I and our spare rooms are all hope he fi nds the better way. — Bobbye M., A Friend of full”? It would be OK for me the Teacher Dear Bobbye: I couldn’t to say, “We can’t go skiing because John broke his leg.” agree more. Thank you for (And someone might even writing. Classifieds SELL YOUR VEHICLE HERE! 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