Purpose & Mission
Print
Founded in 1984, Hazelnut Growers of Oregon (HGO), a business unit of farmer-owned cooperative Wilco, collectively owns more than 20,000 acres of prime hazelnut orchards.
HGO is the premier hazelnut processor and marketer in the U.S servicing ingredient, and foodservice channels for confection, snack food, and baking manufacturers domestically and around the globe. The 120,000 sq ft processing plant also has 57,000 square feet of refrigerated storage space. HGO is well-positioned to handle the future surplus growth expected in the Oregon hazelnut industry.
Services
Grower Support
Dedicated field staff/grower relations. Media support and communications. Community Events Planning.
Receiving
Multiple wash plants and receiving stations strategically located throughout the valley.
Processing
Creating value-added products from Oregon’s proud hazelnut growers. Inshell, kernel, roasted, butter, and paste products are all manufactured in HGO’s state-of-the-art facility.
Sampling
Objective 3rd party testing guarantees Oregon Department Agricultural (ODA) industry standards.
Delivery
Wilco transportation and logistics support. On farm delivery and pick up: bulk, and bins/totes.
Sales & Marketing
Promotes multiple channels of trade including ingredient, food service, and private label. Oregon Hazelnut Marketplace provides a showcase for all hazelnut branded products.
Mission
HGO’s mission is to produce high-quality, value-added products from their members’ harvested crops and return profits to their grower owners. This helps to sustain the next generation of hazelnut farmers in Oregon. Due to their SQF-3 state-of-the-art facility, HGO is the quality leader for hazelnut processing and production in the United States. From hazelnut’s “core” variations (i.e., In-shell, natural, or roasted hazelnut kernels), the cooperative is able to process and sell a multitude of nut formats and applications such as diced, sliced, seasoned, butter/paste, and even hazelnut meal.
