Italy: Tree Nuts Annual 2014
Italy is the second largest hazelnut producer in the world ahead of the United States, but behind Turkey, whose huge supply dominates the world market. Italian hazelnut producers have increasingly improved their production techniques (irrigation, fertilization, pesticide use, and mechanization) enhancing yield and maintaining Italy’s competitiveness in the world market. Hazelnut production is cyclical, bearing heavily in alternate years. MY 2014 will be a “lower” bearing year, with approximately 85,000 MT of hazelnuts produced. Moreover, continuous rain in July impaired pollination, while the cold
temperatures during August compromised the harvest.
