INGA 2023 Annual Nut Evaluation

Saturday, February 18th, 2023, Wickiup Hill Learning Center, Toddville IA

The 2023 INGA Nut Evaluation is scheduled for Saturday, February 18th at Wickiup Hill Learning Center located at 10260 Morris Hills Rd. Toddville Iowa. We will begin at 10:30 am and process and score nut samples until we have worked through all the submissions. This will be a potluck lunch, so please bring your favorite dish to share and some service ware.

At 1:30 Jeff has organized an Iowa Hazelnut Project Meeting to bring together existing growers with new growers to learn from one another as well as learn about a value-added processing opportunity for a shared mobile nut cracking facility on wheels. And as a special treat, Jim Flamming, a local stick carver, will be sharing his stick collection and some of the pieces he has made, many of them from hazelnut wood. Don't miss this chance to see some really beautiful walking canes/sticks.

Anyone can submit a sample for the nut evaluation, member or not, resident of the state of Iowa or not, it is not important; just send the sample. We are generally looking for specific trees or shrubs, that is to say, a particularly good tree or shrub that produces nice nuts; it might be a grafted cultivar or just a "wild" tree or shrub.

A proper sample for walnuts, hickories, pecans, butternuts, heartnuts, etc. is roughly 12 nuts; hazelnuts 20. Only 5 are actually scored for the walnuts, hickories, and others….. 10 nuts for hazelnuts but extras are good.

Select husk free and clean nuts for the sample. Keep nuts stored in a cool dry place (warm storage temperatures for pro-longed periods of time tend to cause the kernels to become rancid) and which have not been allowed to become excessively dry (very dry nuts allow the seal to open up and the kernels to become brittle leading to shattering of the kernel when the shell is cracked).

Be sure to write your name and conatct information on the sample bag for identification purposes. Please also include the variety name if it is known. Other information to include is whether it is a native or seedlings you planted. When you join us for the nut evaluation don't forget to bring your "nippers" if you have them. Bring all of your samples for the nut evaluation - Black Walnut, Carpathian Walnut, Shagbark or Shellbark Hickory, Hican, Butternut, Hazelnut, Pecan, and Heartnut. Samples can also be mailed to Jeff Jensen, 3404 20th Ave, Fenton IA 50539

Click here for Nut Evaluation Press Release

Click here for Nut Evaluation Flyer



Eastern Iowa Hazelnut Learning Group

Saturday, February 18th 1:30 to 3:30

The INGA is hosting a hazelnut learning group and field trip on Saturday, February 18th at Wickiup Hill Learning Center located at 10260 Morris Hills Rd. Toddville Iowa. The event will begin at 1:30 and will feature local stick carver and collector Jim Flamming from Cedar Rapids who will show us some of his work and some of the sticks he collects. A panel of growers will share their experiences growing hazelnuts as part of the IA Hazelnut Project; and Dell Lawrence will show off the first nuts that were produced at the hazelnut test plot. Jeff Jensen will lead a discussion around the need and opportunity for a mobile processing facility before we disburse to visit the hazelnut test plot at the Dell Lawrence farm located at 1290 Marion Airport Rd. Marion Iowa

Click here for Nut Evaluation Press Release



Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference 2023

March 3rd and 4th 2023, Decorah, Iowa

Join the Iowa Nut Growers Association in beautiful Decorah Iowa on Friday March 3rd and Saturday March 4th for the 14th Annual Upper Midwest Hazelnut Growers Conference. We have a great line-up of speakers and presentations from around the Midwest so don't miss this opportunity to learn from the experts.

Friday is a processing open house from 3:00 to 5:00 and then show-n-tell from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds. Show-n-tell is a great way to share what exciting things growers have going on. Discovered your first nut? We want to know about it. Finally have enough nuts to start processing? We want to hear about it. Just plant your first seedlings? Tell us about it! Show-n-tell is your chance for 10 minutes of fame and to share your experiences with others.

Saturday we'll gather at the Hotel Winneshiek in downtown Decorah starting at 8:30 to hear some really great presenters on a range of topics including, cost share opportunities, an update on genetics, branding, new cultivars, and more. At noon we will recognize our grower of the year award. Registration is $50 and includes lunch on Saturday the 4th. Registration is live at the Trees Forever website found at this link https://treesforever.org/event/2023-upper-midwest-hazelnut-growers-conference/

Are y a farm or organization that wants to exhibit? Cost is $100 for a table and includes one paid registration. Contact Jeff Jensen at 515-320-6756 or jjensen@treesforever.org

Click here for Nut Growers Press Release

Click here for Nut Growers Flyer

Click here for Nut Growers Agenda

Click here for link to conference promotion video


Hold the Dates

INGA 2023 Annual Meeting

Saturday April 15th or Saturday April 29th

Hold the dates of Saturday, April 15th or Saturday, April 29th for the Iowa Nut Growers Association Annual Meeting. We are still working out the details.

Hazelnut Academy

Class Schedule

All sessions will be virtual Zoom Calls

Session 1 - Friday, Jan. 20th IA Hazelnut Project: the future of Iowa is nuts!
Sesson 2 - Friday, Jan 27th Hazelnut Primer: the good, the bad, and the ugly
Session 3 - Friday, Feb. 3rd Planning: the best laid plans of mice and men
Sesson 4 - Friday, Feb. 10th Planting and Maintenance: caring for your investment
Session 5 - Friday, Feb. 17th Harvesting and Processing: Basics
Sesson 6 - Friday, Feb 24th Marketing, record keeping, food safety

To register for the zoom link https://forms.office.com/r/6AcTtdYF07