Hazelnut production in Chile facts for kids
Chile is a long, narrow country in South America. It's known for many things, and one of them is growing lots of hazelnuts! In fact, Chile is the biggest producer of hazelnuts in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of these tasty nuts are sent to countries in Europe and the United States.
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Growing Hazelnuts in Chile
How Hazelnut Farming Started
The story of hazelnut farming in Chile goes back to the 1800s. At that time, many people from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland moved to a part of Chile called Araucanía. These new settlers brought their farming knowledge with them, and some started growing hazelnuts. For a long time, these were smaller farms. But since the early 2000s, very large hazelnut farms have become common.
Where Hazelnuts Grow Best
Most of Chile's hazelnuts are grown in two main areas: Central Chile and South-central Chile. These regions have the right climate and soil for hazelnut trees to thrive.
Chile's Role in the World Market
Chile is an important player in the global hazelnut market. In 2016, Chile exported about 6,500 tons of hazelnuts! That's a lot of nuts. News sources like Reuters have said that Chilean hazelnuts are a great alternative to hazelnuts from Turkey, which usually sells the most hazelnuts around the world.
Chilean Hazelnuts vs. Native Nuts
It's important not to confuse the hazelnuts grown on farms in Chile with a native nut called Gevuina avellana. This native tree, sometimes called the Chilean hazel, grows in the Valdivian temperate rain forest. Even though they both have "hazel" in their names, these two types of trees are not closely related at all!
