Hazelnuts: Harvest’s pace quickens

September 22, 2017 at 7:52 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
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SOFIA. Prices are expected to remain high throughout the season. The Turkish hazelnut will dominate the domestic market once again.

BULGARIA. The weather conditions throughout the country have been quite favorable for harvest to continue on uninterruptedly so far in the month. By the second ten-days period of the next month, harvest is expected to end. However, last year’s heavy rains prolonged harvest, as some farmers managed to collect the last nut from the bush sometime in the beginning of November. Weather forecasts predict lower temperatures and occasional rains till the end of the month.

Hazelnuts: different regions tell different stories

Depending on the region, farmers are either closing harvest or are still in the midst of it. In almost all orchards throughout the North regions, farmers have already recorded a higher output so far in the year as compared to output from last year.

In the Northwest, farmers are already calling the end of harvest. Output within the region is multifold because of favorable weather conditions throughout the year. Some farmers have succeeded to subsequently harvest hazelnut bushes as many as three times this season – for some of them, harvest 2017-18 is a bumper one. Once the shell is broken, the kernel is well rounded and well matured. Last year’s empty nuts are a rare sight.

Their counterparts within the Northeast are still harvesting the nut. Expectations are for a stronger current harvest as compared to that of last year, as well. There are mixed feelings among farmers within the South regions. Some of them expected higher results at the beginning of harvest – blaming the climate and the soil; while others, still in the midst of gathering the crop, have already forgotten the nightmare of last year’s harvest.

Anyhow, even if the overall output is higher this year, the local supply is small to satisfy local demand. As a result, the Turkish hazelnut will rule the market once again. However, the imported nut is conventional.

Organic hazelnuts, Bulgaria

Type

EUR/kg

in shell

3,75

natural kernels 9-11

11,22

natural kernels 11-13

11,22

natural kernels 13-15

11,22

EXW Bulgaria

   

Hazelnuts, Bulgaria

Type

EUR/kg

in shell

2,68

natural kernels 9-11

8,40

natural kernels 11-13

8,40

natural kernels 13-15

8,40

EXW Bulgaria

 

 

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