ABSTRACT
American hazelnut occurs throughout a large area of eastern and central United States from coastal New England south to Georgia and west to the Dakotas and Oklahoma. Hazelnut or filbert is second only to almond in world nut production. Hazelnuts were eaten by early Europeans during the Mesolithic period of the Stone Age 10,000 years ago, as indicated by presence of the nuts in many archeological sites. North American wild hazelnuts were widely collected by native people throughout their areas of occurrence. Early North American explorers and settlers also ate the wild nuts. Growers and manufacturers emphasize that hazelnuts have many beneficial qualities. They have relatively low carbohydrate and high fiber compared to other nuts. European hazelnuts are marketed shelled or unshelled, and may be available whole or ground, and often roasted and salted. The American and beaked hazelnuts are very minor sources of nuts, with extremely small commercial significance.
