New York tree crops alliance nuts to hit shelves

Tree nuts like hazelnuts and chestnuts are indigenous to New York state and the eastern region of North America, yet the commercial market for these locally grown nuts has historically remained limited. With the support of Cornell AgriTech, the New York Tree Crops Alliance is on a mission to transform this landscape.

Established in 2019, the New York Tree Crops Alliance is a cooperative of ten farmers dedicated to marketing and commercializing New York-grown tree nuts, including hazelnuts, chestnuts, and others. Jeff and Dawn Zarnowski have played a central role in this effort, having cultivated and bred hazelnuts for over three decades at their farm, Z's Nutty Ridge, in Cortland County. While selling seeds and seedlings has been their primary business, a new manufacturing facility being launched by the alliance in Cortland, along with a range of hazelnut products developed at the Cornell Food Venture Center (CFVC), promises to bring their products to supermarket shelves.

The hazelnuts grown by the Zarnowskis and other alliance members are hybrids of American and European hazelnuts, combining the hardiness of American hazelnuts with the yield and flavor of European hazelnuts.

Jeff Zarnowski collaborated with the CFVC Pilot Plant to create recipes and processes for roasting hazelnuts, pressing hazelnuts into oil, and milling the nuts into flour. These products will soon be produced at the alliance's new processing facility located in the Cortland Commerce Center. The alliance received valuable assistance from the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech (CoE) in setting up the new facility, with guidance from CoE Business Development Specialist Ed Maguire. This support not only facilitated the establishment of the facility but also resulted in cost savings for the alliance.

Chang Chen, an assistant professor in Food Science at Cornell AgriTech with expertise in postharvest technology, including tree nuts, has provided guidance to the alliance on equipment acquisitions.

The first products under the New York Tree Crops Alliance brand are anticipated to reach grocery store shelves by early 2024. Initial volumes will be limited and available at select local stores, including P&C Fresh in Cortland and GreenStar Food Co+op in Ithaca. However, as production increases, the alliance expects its products to expand into regional supermarket chains.

Jeff Zarnowski, who recently completed the eCornell Food Product Development Certificate program through the Food Spark initiative offered by the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park (Tech Farm) and the CoE, has plans to collaborate with the CFVC to create products with chestnuts, such as chestnut milk, chestnut flour, and a gluten-free chestnut pancake mix. Additionally, he aims to produce and market bitternut hickory oil, known for its mild and nutty flavor.

After decades of dedication to growing and breeding tree nuts, Jeff Zarnowski is elated to witness New York-grown tree nuts finally making their way to supermarket shelves, marking a significant milestone for the industry.

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