Double the business

The trees are hardy and easy to grow with few inputs required, and it's now possible to grow commercial hazelnuts and have them inoculated to produce the famous black truffle.

Colin Carter from Trufficulture said establishing a truffiere (truffle orchard) was an expensive venture and required a lot of patience but by combining this with a commercial hazelnut enterprise provided some cashflow relief.

"It makes investment sense that the returns from hazelnuts can amortise the set-up costs of the truffiere," Mr Carter said.

"This represents an improved investment model for those contemplating a dive into the mysterious and exciting world of truffles."

Trufficulture and Hazelnut Nursery Propagators (HNP) have combined to develop inoculation and cultural techniques to allow the potential for double cropping.

"Truffles are the fruiting body of a specialised subterranean fungus which is inoculated on to the roots of hazelnuts or oaks," Mr Carter said.

"They then develop a symbiotic or mutually beneficial relationship with the host tree culminating in the potential for truffle production.

"The French black truffle is highly prized and keenly sought after by leading chefs both locally and internationally."

The Australian hazelnut industry is dominated by imported hazelnuts - often these can be several months old and don't have the same sweet flavour of freshly-grown local product.

Mr Carter said hazelnuts were rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, contained no cholesterol and were an excellent source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

"HNP has a great range of varieties with compatible pollinisers to ensure excellent crop yields; it also provides all the cultural advice needed and a planting design for the orchard," Mr Carter said.

"Bare-root stock in the form of whips is available for planting from July to September."

HNP - now a division of Trufficulture Pty Ltd - is located in Gembrook, Victoria.

Trufficulture and Black Truffle Harvest Australia will conduct a grower seminar and workshop on Saturday, April 19 at Sutton, in the Southern Tablelands.

"The one day seminar will cover growing hazelnuts as a viable horticultural enterprise and growing black truffles in NSW and the ACT," Mr Carter said.

"Throughout this region there are successful hazelnut groves and young truffle plantations and there are soils and climatic regions that suit both."

Guest speakers will include Colin and Nathan Carter from Trufficulture and Noel Fitzpatrick from Black Truffle Harvest Australia, a specialist truffle grower and marketer.

After the seminar those interested can join in a farm walk on a producing truffiere.

The seminar will run from 10am to 3.30pm and the $60 entry fee covers the costs of the seminar, a light lunch and the farm walk to the truffiere.

To register and reserve your place contact Colin or Jan on (03) 5968 1092 or email Colin

Visit Hazelnuts and for truffles visit Trufficulture.