Merkley Leads Oregon Lawmakers to Urge Continued Support for Oregon’s Hazelnut Industry

Salem, OR - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led members of Oregon's congressional delegation in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins that calls on the Department to deliver critical federal support to Oregon's hazelnut industry under the federal Section 32 purchase program.

"The hazelnut industry is a massive and integral part of our state's agricultural economy; its size and longevity represent generations of farmers and handlers who have dedicated their lives to producing and distributing a product many communities depend on for their livelihoods," wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers' letter calls on USDA to include Oregon hazelnuts, which account for 99 percent of hazelnuts produced in the United States, in this year's Section 32 purchases, supporting growers, harvesters, processors, and agricultural economies primarily in Oregon's Willamette Valley during a period of significant market disruption and economic uncertainty in a global market.

They stressed, "In recent years, disruptions in important export markets caused by these compounding issues have been particularly difficult for certain kernel sizes and grades that are high-quality, marketable food products but have fewer commercial outlets. These imbalances and market losses create uncertainty and pressure for our farmers and producers and threaten the steady distribution needed to prevent compounding product surpluses year-to-year."

In addition to Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), and Val Hoyle (OR-04).

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here.

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