Upper Midwest Hazelnuts
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Join A Grower Network

Hazelnut Grower Clusters

Thinking about growing hazelnuts?  Already growing hazelnuts and looking to harvest, process, and sell them?  Consider joining your nearest hazelnut grower cluster.  These networks of growers were launched in 2019 with the goal to help growers work together to learn about, grow, and sell hazelnuts.  The best way to get started is to scroll down and contact the Cluster Coordinator closest to you or click on the button below to complete a short survey and we'll contact you.
Grower Survey
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Northwest Wisconsin Grower Cluster
Coordinator: Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
[email protected]
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Jason Fischbach is the UW-Extension Agriculture Agent covering Ashland and Bayfield Counties.  He has been co-leader of the UMHDI since its beginning in 2007.  Northwest Wisconsin is home to a number of growers and includes research plantings in Spooner, Hayward, Ashland, Bayfield, Washburn, and Marengo.  Ashland is also the home of the UMHDI Hazelnut Processing Incubator where hazelnuts from across the Upper Midwest are cracked and cleaned.  Contact me today to get in involved in our grower cluster!
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Driftless Grower Cluster (SW WI, SE MN, NE IA, NW IL)
Coordinator: David Bruce, Savanna Institute
[email protected]
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​David is a Program manager at Savanna Institute. His primary duties include providing resources for the commercialization of elderberries, working to organize current and prospective hazelnut growers, and other projects to help expand the aggregation and marketing of perennial small fruits. David comes to the Savanna institute with diverse experiences in organic farming and cooperative marketing, and a MS in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from UW Madison.  
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Central Wisconsin Grower Cluster
Coordinators (left to right): Mrill Ingram, Michelle Miller, Regina Hirsh
​UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems
[email protected]
Staff at the UW-Madison’s Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems are working to develop a hazelnut grower network in central Wisconsin.  The network is coordinated by Mrill Ingram, Participatory Action Research Scientist, Michelle Miller, Associate Director, and Regina Hirsch, Associate Scientist.
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Northern Minnesota Grower Cluster
Coordinator: Greg Schweser, UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
[email protected]
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​Greg Schweser is co-director of the UMN Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnership where he works to connect people in Greater Minnesota working on sustainable agriculture innovations with University resources. Schweser has been involved in a variety of projects that include sustainable winter production systems, perennial crops, garlic, rural grocery stores, food forests, and more. 
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Southern Minnesota Grower Cluster
Coordinator: Linda Meschke, Rural Advantage
[email protected]
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Iowa Grower Cluster
Coordinator: Jeff Jensen, Iowa Nut Growers Association
[email protected]
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The Iowa Hazelnut Project seeks to expand hazelnuts as a viable alternative crop in Iowa through the following goals:
  1. Lead outreach and learning opportunities
  2. Establish field trials throughout Iowa
  3. Develop value added opportunities and processes
Our Hazelnut Academy is an excellent way to learn the basics about hazelnuts in Iowa, contact Jeff Jensen at 515-320-6756 or [email protected] for details and questions on how to get involved.
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Copyright 2025 University of Wisconsin Extension. All rights reserved.
Site Coordinator: Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension
An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and American with Disabilities (ADA) requirements.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Why Hazelnuts?
    • Our Work
    • Our Research Team
    • Our Funding
    • UMHDI Mailing LIst
  • For Growers
    • Coming Events
    • Grower Networks
    • Podcast
    • Publications
    • Buy Plants
    • Conference Proceedings
    • Other Resources
  • Processing
    • Processing 101
    • Processing Equipment
    • Processing Accelerator
    • Accelerator Partners
  • Donate
  • LFP Project