Hazelnut Growers of Oregon plans to launch four new Oregon Orchard hazelnut chocolates in February.
The Oregon Orchard confections are dipped in premium, artisanal chocolate. The four flavors are: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, skinny milk chocolate (20 percent less chocolate) and marionberry chocolate.
This line of 6-oz. resealable pouched confections will be available at the Oregon Hazelnut Marketplace and all Wilco Farm Stores in Oregon and Washington, as well as online at oregonorchard.com. The suggested retail price is $7.49-$7.99.
Matt Gillespie, director of marketing for Hazelnut Growers of Oregon, said chocolate is renowned for enhancing ingredient flavor profiles and hazelnuts are no exception.
“Hazelnuts are usually less sweet than almonds or pecans. They tend to bring out a satisfying texture and ‘brown butter’ flavor that is distinctive from the other nut varieties,” Gillespie said. “Chocolatiers often take advantage of this distinction when using hazelnuts as a primary inclusion in their confection portfolio. Thanks to Oregon Orchard, consumers can now enjoy this unique flavor combination.”
The hazelnut chocolates are a good source of vitamins B and E and they are gluten free.
Founded in 1984, Hazelnut Growers of Oregon is a business unit of farmer-owned cooperative Wilco. It has more than 180 growers who collectively own more than 20,000 acres of prime hazelnut orchards.
All Oregon Orchard products are produced with HGO members’ hazelnuts that are grown with sustainability in mind. The hazelnuts are steam pasteurized and roasted in small batches at the SQF Level-3 certified processing facility in Donald, Oregon.
