The hazelnut tree (Corylus avellana) has been cultivated in Italy since early Roman times, and is mentioned by many Latin authors: Cato, Pliny and the georgic poets, such as Virgil, celebrated it as the favourite tree of shepherds, who called upon it as a witness and protector of their loves.
The Romans called the hazel tree corylus, from the Greek corus (helmet), due to resemblance of the shape of the casing or 'cupule’ surrounding the fruit to a helmet. The term avellana, on the other hand, may derive from the ancient city of Abellina in Asia Minor or, according to others, Avella (Avellino) in the Campania region, considered cradle of hazelnut cultivation in Italy.
In days gone by, the hazelnut tree had symbolic and magical ritualistic significance.
The caduceus of the god Mercury consisted of a hazel staff with two snakes twisted around it. For the ancients, it was a symbol of peace and reconciliation, and the Romans used it to make torches to be lit on wedding days to wish the couple well. A shaman’s magic wand was made from hazel, as was a water-diviner’s rod.
Hazelnut trees are extremely widespread in the Mediterranean area, favouring hills, and are found up to altitudes of 1600 metres. These trees grow to a height of five or even seven metres and have a broad canopy and a bushy structure.
The hazelnut tree is a monoecious species, with both male and female blossoms found separately but on the same plant. The male blossoms are called catkins while the female ones are known as glomeruli.
The hazelnut is an indehiscent fruit (it does not open spontaneously on ripening) with a green cupule that dries out when the nut is ripe, enabling it to fall to the ground for harvesting.
Organic young hazelnut trees have the same characteristics as conventional young hazelnut trees. The difference lies in their cultivation methods or, in other words, the products used to fertilise both the nursery trees and the mother trees from which the shoots are collected.
Organic cultivation methods ensure the production of young trees and fruits using natural substances and processes with a reduced environmental impact.
When you purchase our trees, you have the assurance of traceability, because we oversee all stages of production from choice of mother tree, collection of shoots and planting in our nursery to final shipping!
Our nursery is listed in the Official Register of Professional Operators.
Registration Number: RUOP IT- 12-1076, business centre VT/01
This call for proposals offers one million euros to those starting biological agriculture and nine million for continuation of the method. The Lazio Region opened the call to support the introduction and continuation of organic agriculture for 2022. The call, launched based on Measure 11 of the RDP, offers ten million euros to be divided between two operations:
All individual or associated farmers in Lazio who are already carrying out organic cultivation or who wish to do so can participate in the call. Those who receive the funding must pledge to continue using organic methods for at least two years on all their farm land.
The call offers funding per hectare depending on the crop type. For those wishing to begin organic cultivation (Operation 11.1.1), the funding is 800 euros per hectare for hazelnut trees, table and wine grapevines and peach, plum, apple, pear and citrus fruit trees.
This funding can be combined with that of calls for agri-environmental payments, compensatory payments in mountain areas and animal welfare funding.
For further information and details, please visit the dedicated page and the full text on the call.
Source: Lazio Region
