The secrets of growing hazelnuts: A family from Alba founded a hazelnut plantation in the county and exports plants even to Bulgaria and Ukraine. “The hazelnut is a gold mine”

A family from Alba founded a hazelnut plantation in the county and exports plants even to Bulgaria and Ukraine: “Hazelnuts are a gold mine”

Crăita worked on a hazelnut plantation 25 years ago in Italy, learned all the secrets of their cultivation and has a thriving business now. She exports hazelnuts to Italy and sells young plants to those who want to start a business, under the brand “Alune de la noi”.

Present at Târgul Grădinarului 2024 in Alba Iulia, Crăița has a stand that winks at you through the goodies on display, so I was curious to learn more about the delicious hazelnuts in chocolate that they invited me to taste.

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She told me that she worked in Italy, on a hazelnut plantation and perfected herself in growing and caring for them, so once she returned to the country, she established her own hazelnut plantation in Ciuguzel, which she manages together with her husband.

She tells me that the Italians are big fans of hazelnuts and that the years she worked there helped her to make connections that help her a lot to sell hazelnuts for export. For Romania, they don’t even have time to deal with promotion very much. Deliver to weddings or other events where requested only.

Instead, in Romania they sell hazelnut plants which, she says, are an excellent investment compared to other crops.

“People in Romania have started to understand that the hazelnut does not require a lot of work and a lot of money invested. Hazelnut plants do not require special care, they are not demanding and grow on almost any type of soil. They need to be watered and cared for more during the first 3 years of life. I recommend the hazelnut plantation, because one man can maintain 10 hectares alone, he only needs help when picking. “

I see brochures on the stand that contain a lot of information about the cultivation of hazelnuts, and Crăița tells me that she helps and informs those who want to start such a business with love.

“I especially recommend this business to young people, because after two years they regenerate, and a plant lives 100 years, so you can multiply it and enjoy the fruits with a small initial investment.”

Crăița, together with her husband, also have an opening office in Aiud and export hazelnut plants including to Bulgaria and Ukraine.