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!
GARAGE SALE
If it Drives or Floats...
SEASON IS HERE!
ONLY
$ 49.95
ADVERTISE TODAY 800.781.3214
If it doesn’t sell in two weeks
We will give you two weeks for FREE!
Searching for Employees?
PLACE YOUR JOB
POSTING HERE
Special Includes:
$ 25
• 2 Weeks in Print
& Online
• Logo Included
• Facebook Boost
• Featured Advertising
ys
for 3 da
Call 800.781.3214 to
ADVERTISE TODAY!
110 Announcements
Wed, December 11th , 2019
9:30AM-11:30AM
CLATSOP COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SURPLUS SALE
Columbia Hall, Room 102
1651 Lexington Ave, Astoria
Miscellaneous
Computer Equipment
First come, first served – all
Item as is
Go.
Do.
154 Holiday
Happenings
Call Brittany at
800-781-3214
154 Holiday
Happenings
SOCIAL ANXIETY?
Send an email to:
classifieds@dailyastorian.com
to place a classified ad without
picking up a phone!
Treasure Alley
Inside Pier 11 building
20% off entire inventory!
Black Friday thru Christmas
Eve. Antiques, Collectibles,
Art, Furniture, Nautical,
Jewelry, hand crafted items
11th St, on the Waterfront
Astoria
160 Christmas Trees
Congratulations Addison!
Thanksgiving Coloring
Contest
1st place winner
Congratulations Rose!
Thanksgiving Coloring
Contest
2nd place winner
coastweekend.com
dining • the arts • music
shopping • museums • classes • movies
gardening • news • blogs • more
157 Events
Sell your children’s outgrown
clothes and toys with a
classified ad in
The Astorian.
Call 503-325-3211 to place
your ad today!
www.DailyAstorian.com
Oja’s U-Cut Trees
Nobles
All Trees $30
4 miles from
Miles Crossing
90198 Youngs River Rd
Astoria
Daily:10am-4pm
SPECIALTY
SERVICES
SHOP LOCAL!
W e urge you to patronize the local
Check the Business Directory
daily to utilize the local
professionals advertising
in The Astorian.
To place an ad in our Business
Directory, call 503-325-3211.
t he a storian s pecialty
s ervices . t o place your s pecialty
s ervices ad , call 325-3211.
professionals advertising in
ADVERTISERS who want quick
results use classified ads regularly.