Oregon hazelnuts popping up in a different pot
R a v io li f ille d w ith
gorgonzola and hazelnut paste. A
hazelnut pesto fettuccini. Fresh
rack o f lam b crusted w ith- you
guessed it- hazelnuts. It sure
looks like hazelnuts are not just
for dessert anymore. It sure tastes
like it too.
“ In general, nuts have
traditionally been used in dessert
applications and continue to be,”
says Laura Barton, m arketing
s p e c ia lis t w ith th e O re g o n
Department o f Agriculture. “But
O regon’s hazelnut industry is
looking to increase usage in the
U.S. by exploring other types o f
foods that can use hazelnuts, such
as appetizers and entrees.”
O regon produces m ore
than 99 percent o f the n atio n 's
hazelnuts. A lthough som e are
exported, the dom estic m arket
remains a vital destination for the
s ta te ’s $35 m illion hazeln u t
industry. The strategy is simple—
increase the num ber o f w ays
hazelnuts can be consum ed and
you increase the sales o f Oregon
hazelnuts.
S in c e p r o m o tio n a l
dollars for hazelnuts are short,
the targeted audience for this new
strategy is primarily confined to
the ingredient and food service
industries. Encouraging chefs to
u tiliz e th e h a z e ln u t c o u ld
significantly broaden its appeal.
A recen t sc h o la rsh ip
contest involving would-be chefs
enrolled at P ortland’s W estern
Culinary Institute inspired some
d e lic io u s ly -c re a tiv e e n tre e s
involving Oregon hazelnuts. The
O regon H azelnut M arketing
B o a rd o f f e r e d $ 8 ,0 0 0 in
s c h o la rsh ip m o n ey to first,
second, and third place finishers.
Barton was one o f the judges
lo o k in g fo r p r e s e n ta tio n ,
creativity, and taste.
"O ne student created a
hazelnut tam ale that w ould be
nice for som ebody who was a
vegetarian,” says Barton. “One
o f my favorite applications was
a side dish o f roasted asparagus
drizzled w ith hazelnut-lem on
m ayonnaise. There were also a
num ber o f m eat stuffings for
poultry using hazelnuts. It was all
delicious.”
First prize went to the
hazelnut-crusted lamb. Second
p riz e w en t to the h azeln u t-
gorgonzola filled ravioli. Third
p r iz e w e n t to a h a z e ln u t-
encrusted chicken breast with
hazelnut pesto fettuccini. The
judges got a belly-full and did not
need to fix dinner that evening.
“O regonians and other
folks in the Pacific N orthw est
m ight know about hazelnuts
already because they have grown
up with it, but that’s not true for
the rest o f the U .S.,” says Polly
O w en , a d m in is tra to r o f the
Hazelnut Marketing Board. “We
realize that m ost o f the chefs at
the Western Culinary Institute will
go to work in restaurants around
the co u n try and around the
w orld. We w ant them to take
that knowledge and appreciation
o f O regon hazelnuts w herever
they go.”
The indirect target o f
inducing chefs is the home cook.
By b e c o m in g fa m ilia r w ith
hazelnut dishes in the restaurant,
the industry hopes similar recipes
will find their w ay into family
m eals. With the season o f big
h o lid ay m eals ap p ro ach in g ,
hazelnuts offer consum ers a
chance to “go nuts" with some
o f these recipes.
“ Because hazelnuts are
so v ersatile and th eir flavor
enhances other flavors, they
belong in all sorts o f m eals-
everything from breakfast to
snacks to dinner to desserts,”
says Owen. “Just try throwing a
handful o f hazelnuts into your
turkey dressing this Thanksgiving.
You’ll never stop using them that
way in the future."
The holiday season also
m arks the peak o f domestic in­
shell hazelnut consumption. The
dem and is nearly always some
4,000 tons o f hazelnuts in the
U.S. Since that demand has not
changed for years, the only way
to
in c r e a s e
d o m e s tic
consumption is by finding uses for
hazelnuts as ingredients that
w ould be desirable 365 days a
year.
There is no doubt that
h a z e ln u ts are doing well in
confections and dessert items.
Thanks to the popularity
o f such gourmet items as flavored
coffees and creamers, Americans
a re in c r e a s in g ly a w a re o f
hazelnuts and are starting to take
m ore o f a liking to them. But
other parts o f the world have
been eating hazelnuts for a long
time. Huge production in Turkey
and Italy has a lot to do with that.
Som e m arkets are even
p u ttin g th e h a z eln u t into a
popularly branded product that
normally uses a different nut.
“ W hen I was in Europe
recently, I saw the candy M&Ms
u s in g h a z e ln u ts in ste a d o f
p e a n u ts ,” sa y s B a rto n . “ In
M ex ico , I ’v e seen h azelnut
Hershey bars.”
In th e U .S ., th o s e
products haven't tapped into the
hazelnut. But domestic shoppers
can find cookies, cake mixes and
ice creams featuring hazelnuts as
a m ain ingredient. Burgerville
restaurants seasonally offer a
hazelnut milk shake on the menu.
Some local m icrobreweries are
even featuring hazelnut beer.
T h e e x p o rt m a rk e t
continues to be im portant to
Les Schwab donates point board to lone
I
Les Schwab Tires in H eppner has started the dollar per point program for lone High School’s
basketball season this year. For every point scored by the lone girls and boys varsity basketball
teams at home games, Les Schwab will donate $1 to the shook The company also sponsors dollar
per point at Heppner High School. Pictured above are from left Assistant Manger J eff Shank,
lone Athletic Director Dean Robinson and Heppner Les Schwab M anager Glen Bridgmon. The
Les Schwab com pany is also a sponsor o f the state OSAA state playoffs this year.
Rosewood Piano Finished
Desk Organizer
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - FIVE
O regon’s hazelnut industry. In
parts o f the caller’s tractor while
particular, C hina rem ains a big
it w as parked in his Boardm an
customer for the in-shell nut.
orchard.
The Morrow County Sheriff’s
Still, it’s the prospect o f
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
Office
(MCSO) reports handling
introducing the hazelnut to the
report from a caller in Irrigon that
the following business:
main course that offers Oregon
his bird feeder had been stolen
O ct. 14: M CSO cited
g ro w e rs the best c h a n c e at
sometime during the night.
Adrian Nicholas Calder, 20, for
increased domestic consumption
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
Possession o f One O unce o f request for deputy contact from
and sales.
Marijuana.
"There is so much room
Irrigon M obile Court regarding
for the marketing of our hazelnuts
-M CSO cited a subject
a lockout.
for No O perator’s License.
to grow,” says Barton. “We have
-M C S O ,
O SP,
a lot o f v e ry c re a tiv e a n d
-M CSO cited Benson
Boardman PD, received a report
Carver Jones, 27, for Exceeding
enthusiastic chefs in Oregon that
o f an injured deer on the offramp
the Maximum Speed, 90 mph in
already recognize and love to use
at milepost 168.
a 65 mph zone.
regional ingredients, including the
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
hazelnut. We want to see m ore
-M C S O c ite d M aria
report from a caller in Irrigon that
o f that kind o f thing.”
C ruz Salas Resendez, 22, for
she had been getting threatening
As the versatility o f the
Violation o f the Basic Rule, 76
calls.
mph in a 55 mph zone.
h a z e ln u t b e c o m e s m o re
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
a p p a re n t, so w ill its usage.
-M C S O re c e iv e d a
report from a caller in Heppner
Oregon growers are counting on
request for deputy contact at
that som e cattle w ere out o f its
it
C o lu m b ia M id d le S c h o o l
field.
For m ore inform ation,
regarding MIP-tobacco.
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
contact Laura Barton at (503)
-M C S O re c e iv e d a
report from a caller o f a fire on
872-6600.
report that som eone had stolen
Coleman Hill. US Forest Sen ice
advised it was a controlled bum.
-M C S O re c e iv e d a
report from a caller in lone that
items w ere stolen off his farm in
Gilliam Co.
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
report o f a dirt bike riding up and
down the street in Irrigon.
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
report o f juveniles stealing com
and throw ing the ears at their
vehicle and residence.
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
report o f a $ 14 drive-off from the
76 Station in Boardman.
-M C S O ,
H eppner
Ambulance received a request for
an am bulance at H eppner City
H all fo r a m ale in h is 50s
e x p e rie n c in g p o ssib le heart
problems. Subject was transport
to Pioneer Memorial Hospital.
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
report o f shots fired near an
Irrigon residence.
-M C S O re c e iv e d a
report o f a pick-up on fire in
Boardman. The vehicle was fully
(l-r) Matt Holland, Kara Clay, Kate Kendrick, Brynna Rust, Eric Jepsen.
engulfed in flames.
Alex Carlson and Peg Willis at a recent Addling trip.
-M C SO gave a m ale
Eric Jepsen, K ate K endrick,
It’s Ireland or Bust for
subject
a
ride to the Umatilla Co.
B ry n n a R u s t, a n d th e ir
six young South Morrow County
line.
a c c o m p a n is t on g u ita r or
m usicians - w h o m ake up the
O ct. 15: M CSO cited a
mandolin is Matt Holland. ' 1 ‘;
gmup they ¿all1 ^ e n a r t
40-year-tiid
male subject' for fto
In addition to taking
the name Shenanigans implies,
O
perator's
License.
fiddling lessons from Willis, the
these kids have lots o f energy, but
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
Shenanigans all take classical
they are getting known for their
report from a caller that she had
violin or guitar instruction from
m u sic a l ta le n t r a th e r th a n
been contacted by m ail from a
other teachers and are serious
mischievous activities. They’ve
subject she had a restraining
about becoming good musicians.
set a goal to travel with their
To reach their goal o f order against.
director. Peg W illis, to Ireland
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
Ireland, the students estimate that
and attend a weeklong sum m er
report
o
f an audible alarm at
they'll need over $ 1,400 each to
m usic school in either June or
K
egler’s
Sentry M arket. Was
pay for the trip and the music
Ju ly 2 0 03. It w o u ld be the
determ
ined
to be an em ployee
school fees. The Shenanigans are
opportunity o f a lifetime to learn
error.
planning a variety o f fundraising
the true style and performance o f
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
events which include: a concert
Celtic m usic from som e o f the
report o f a lost dog answering to
to commemorate the anniversary
w o r ld ’s b est p la y e rs. T hey
the name “Spanky".
o f the Heppner Flood, a pop can
would in turn bring back that Irish
-M C S O r e c e iv e d a
drive, and a car wash next spring
music to share with Heppner and
re
p
o
rt
th a t a tw o - y e a r -o ld
- to nam e a few. They have
surrounding communities.
toddler
was
in the road in from
alread y accu m u lated alm ost
The
m e m b e rs
of
o
f
Pettyjohn's.
Was determined
$900 in their bank account from
Shenanigans range in age from
that the child escaped from the
money they're earned by playing
10 to 12 years old. They m ay be
back yard, and was returned to
at v a rio u s E a s te rn O re g o n
young, but alm ost all o f them
the
residence.
events.
have been taking music lessons
-M C S O re c e iv e d a
I f a n y o n e w a n ts to
since they were in kindergarten.
report
from
a Boardman resident
d o n a te c a n s , th e y c a n be
They united as a perform ing
that
his
14-year-old
daughter was
dropped o ff anytim e in a box
group three years ago and have
missing
from
school.
A report
near tw o o f the Shenanigan's
been practicing each Friday
was
sent
to
surrounding
agencies.
homes. In Heppner, a box will be
under W illis’s instruction and
at M att H olland's door at 240
h a v e p e rfo rm e d at m a n y
We Print Business Cards
South Chase Street. In lone, cans
community events.
Heppner G a ie t t e -T im e s
can be taken to Kara Clay at 330
T h e g ro u p in c lu d e s
E. Main.
fiddlers Alex Carlson, Kara Clay,
Sheriff's Report
“Ireland or Bust” for local fiddle group
N<
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