Hazelnut shortage creates jobs for Ontario farmers

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Ontario farmers are stepping in to feed Canadians’ appetite for hazelnuts as the industry is hit with a worldwide shortage.

A disease called Easter Filbert Blight has been killing nearly all of the hazelnut trees in British Columbia.

This means a huge opportunity for Ontario farmers.

The makers of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher chocolates are just a couple of the companies willing to pay big bucks for hazelnuts right now.

Ferrero has signed a long term deal with the Ontario Hazelnut Association to create hazelnut crops to feed the Brantford manufacturing plant.

This year Ontario farmers will harvest 40 percent more hazelnuts than last year.