September 5, 2025
Dear HGBA member,
The purpose of the Hazelnut Growers Bargaining Association (HGBA) is simple: negotiate the terms between our members and the signatory packers/processors.
The HGBA’s sole objective is to create a transparent process so our members can be assured they are receiving all they are due within the world market. The primary terms the HGBA negotiates include:
The packer margin “fixed fee”.
A guaranteed payment within 45 days.
Standardized cleaning, drying and quality discounts.
Evaluate the market and negotiate the final field price the following Spring.
Maintain the ability to audit packers if needed.
The contract between the HGBA and signatory packers is very onerous on the signatory packer/processors as we have the right to audit their books and to hold their margin to the negotiated “fixed fee” allowed by the contract. We are fortunate to have packers that support the industry thorough the transparency contract HGBA has developed over the years.
As always, your final field price will be set by the market, which in turn is set by the world-wide supply and demand of hazelnuts. Numerous factors have allowed our packers to differentiate Oregon hazelnuts from our world competitors. We have expressed our expectation that the remaining processors need to work to maximize any “Oregon premium” from the market and pass that onto our members. The HGBA signatory packers are committed to developing new markets and leaning into the reliable ones to maximize our grower’s final price and re-establish our “Oregon premium”.
It may seem that receiving money earlier in the process would be beneficial however, the fact it that it can actually lead the processors to liquidate inventory prematurely, lowering the final field prices in the Spring. In negotiations with the Oregon packers, we have developed a payment schedule that will give our growers up-front cash, while still allowing the processors to work hard to push prices upwards.
During the contract negotiations on the term, the processors did not ask, nor did we allow the processor margin to be increased from the fixed fee we had in the past contracts. Processors have experienced the same 20% inflation on their costs as our farmers, but they have not been allowed to increase the margin to cover those additional costs. We view this as a big win for Oregon farmers since it continues to put more money in our growers’ pockets.
The 2025 “Guaranteed Grower Advance” for the 2025 Oregon hazelnut crop are as follows:
1. Advance Payment: High shell-out: $1.30/lb., Mid-shell-out: $1.12/lb., Low shell-out/Inshell $1.05/lb.
45-day payment: $0.60/lb. Remainder: March 30th, 2026
High shell-out Varieties: $1.30/lb.
Includes: McDonald, Sacajawea and Casina
Mid-Shell-out Varieties: $1.12/lb.
Includes Wepster, Clark, Willamette, Yamhill, Santiam, Lewis, Dorris and Polly-O
Low shell-out/Inshell Varieties: $1.05/lb.
Includes: Barcelona, Jefferson and Ennis
2. Field Price Review #1. January 30th, 2026, #2. March 15th, 2026
3. Final Field Price Payment No Later Than July 31st, 2026
Our industry has rebounded quickly from what was a devastating price only 3 short years ago. Today prices continue to strengthen, and excitement within our industry has returned. A primary key to this is an outstanding group of packer families and the unique partnership our organization has forged with them. We strongly believe we have one of the most beneficial systems in all of agriculture for our industry to develop and thrive. We encourage everyone to go have a successful harvest with the comfort of a good return on your effort. Pick early and often to ensure Oregon continues to deliver the highest possible quality to the market, and maintain prices that reflect it. Thank you to all of our growers, we appreciate your membership and continued support of The Hazelnut Growers Bargaining Association of Oregon.
A big thank you to all of our 2025 signature packers George Packing, NW Hazelnut, Willamette Hazelnut and Hazelnut Growers of Oregon.
Sincerely,
The HGBA board of directors