New jersey could soon have an official state nut

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A new bill in the state legislature would name an official state nut, if passed.

New Jersey has entered the growing multi-billion-dollar global hazelnut industry, becoming the first state on the East Coast to cultivate blight-resistant hazelnut varieties developed by Rutgers University.

The United States currently accounts for about five percent of the world’s hazelnut production, with nearly all commercial hazelnuts grown in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. For decades, the spread of eastern filbert blight, a fungal disease lethal to hazelnuts, prevented other states — including New Jersey — from entering the market.

In response, Rutgers University began developing disease-resistant hazelnut varieties in 1996. After years of research, the university released its first blight-resistant varieties to growers in 2020. The new cultivars — named “Raritan,” “Somerset,” “Monmouth,” and “Hunterdon” — reflect both Rutgers’ New Brunswick roots and the New Jersey counties where the trees are now being planted.

Expanding commercial opportunities in the Garden State

With the development of these varieties, New Jersey has become the first East Coast state to commercially grow hazelnuts, opening new agricultural and economic opportunities for local farmers. Hazelnut products such as nut butters, baked goods, and confections continue to drive demand worldwide.

The breakthrough allows New Jersey farmers to diversify crops while tapping into an industry previously limited to the Pacific Northwest. Rutgers’ work may also serve as a model for expanding hazelnut cultivation across other regions affected by eastern filbert blight.

The state’s entry into hazelnut farming marks a significant milestone for agricultural innovation and economic growth in New Jersey.

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