HAZELNUT GROWING IN TURKEY, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTION SUGGESTIONS

Hazelnut ranks second after almond in terms of both production and consumption among the hard-shelled fruits in the world. Consumption of hazelnut as a snack is limited and it is one of the basic raw materials of the food industry, especially in sectors such as chocolate and confectionery. Hazelnut; It is nutrient rich in folic acid, vitamins E, K and C, minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, protein, fiber and fat. It is known that hazelnut covers the temperate climate zone of the Northern Hemisphere in the form of wild forms from Japan to China, Manchuria, Caucasus, Turkey, Europe and North America. The cultivated varieties of hazelnut are grown in Turkey, Italy, Spain, USA, Chile, China, Iran, France, Azerbaijan, Russia and Georgia. World hazelnut production has increased significantly in recent years. Turkey, which ranks first in world hazelnut production, is followed by Italy, Azerbaijan and the USA, respectively. In recent years, it has been observed that there has been an increase in the production of Azerbaijan and the USA. In this study, the problems, innovations and the importance of Turkey in the cultivation of hazelnut are mentioned.