Canadian Hazelnut

Canadian Hazelnut is a certified organic hazelnut orchard and processing facility.  There will be a BBQ lunch featuring the following options:
* Hazelnut Veggie Burger & Smoothie
* Hazelnut Veggie Patty (no bun) &Salad& Smoothie
* Pizza & 1/2 Smoothie
* 1/2 Pizza & Smoothie & Corn on the Cob (local)
* Hazelnut Veggie Burger & 1/2 Smoothie & Slice of Pizza
* Hazelnut Veggie Patty & salad & 1/2 Smoothie & 2 Corn
All of the above are $10.00 combos for which a ticket can be purchased in advance online.  Lunch will be available by 10:00am till the end of the event.  There is live entertainment from 11am - 2pm.

Be sure to visit the retail store to experience a variety of hazelnut treats.  Hazelnut flour and oil, roasted, candied and chocolate covered hazelnuts are produced fresh daily.  Linger awhile in the orchard and enjoy the SLOW FOOD – FAST

Agassiz is the center of BC’s hazelnut production, and has some of the largest hazelnut orchards in the province.  Canadian Hazelnut is one of these, and if you come on the Slow Food Cycle Tour of Agassiz, you will have the opportunity to bike under the magical green canopy of this orchard and lounge in the cool comfort of its shade, where even in the hottest days, you feel quite comfortable. 

This orchard was started by Henry Wigand, who also designed and built a unique hazelnut processing facility.  An enthusiast about the potential for hazelnuts in the region, Mr. Wigand had a vision to process locally grown hazelnuts at his farm, and encouraged many small farmers in the area to grow hazelnuts.  He not only planted a 60 acre hazelnut orchard in 1981, but also designed a processing facility that could sort, dry, hull and crack the nuts in large quantities, with much of the equipment purpose crafted, tooled and built by his son, Ron Wigand.  Tragically Henry fell ill and died before his dream could be realized.  The fate of this large orchard and unique processing facility hung in the balance for a few years, until it was bought by Pentti and Deborah Hanninen, organic hazelnut growers from Chilliwack. 

Pentti Hanninen not only pursued Henry’s dream, he expanded the business.  He quickly brought the large orchard into full production, and started using the processing facility to sort, dry, hull and roast not only his own nuts, but also those from other orchards.  Pentti then went on to start an extensive direct farm market for his hazelnuts.  Not content to only supply hazelnut lovers with the whole nut, Pentti has designed a wide variety of hazelnut treats for the pleasure of the consumer.  Here you can discover the secret delights of hazelnut oil and hazelnut flour, taste what fresh nut butters can really be like with his hazelnut butter, try chocolate maple coated hazelnuts, hazelnut bark, candied hazelnuts or roasted hazelnuts in a variety of flavours.  On the day of the tour, he will have a barbeque featuring local products with his hazelnuts, including pizza, veggie burgers, smoothies, and frozen desserts. 

Pentti is an expert hazelnut farmer and he will be on hand to explain to tour participants all about growing hazelnuts (did you know they pollinate in January, and you must have the right mix of trees in order to get a nut at the end of the year?).  He will also take interested people through his unique processing facility, with its hand-crafted machinery.  It is a relaxing place to be in the summer and, if you love nuts, or are simply curious about a nut-processing facility, you have come to the right place.  Come and lounge in this historic, beautiful orchard and share the Hanninen’s family lifestyle with them. 

Contact information:
phone: Pentti Hanninen 604-796-2136
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)