Almonds 500 g
Supporting sustainable hazelnut production: Happy Hazelnut
The Happy Hazelnut project promotes socially and environmentally responsible hazelnut production in Türkiye, where around two-thirds of the world’s hazelnuts are grown.
Its goals include improving the living and working conditions of seasonal workers and their families, while helping to prevent child labour. We have supported the project since it was established in 2013 and source Happy Hazelnut-certified hazelnuts for our familia Müesli.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of hazelnuts are grown, harvested and exported along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. A large share of the world’s hazelnut harvest comes from this region – including hazelnuts destined for Switzerland.
Turkish hazelnuts are known for their excellent quality. At the same time, working conditions for harvest workers can be precarious. Child labour and limited access to schooling remain major challenges
Goals of the initiative
The foundation aims to support sustainable hazelnut farming in Türkiye through concrete and innovative local solutions.
- Helping to prevent child labour
- Improving the living and working conditions of seasonal workers and their families
- Fair pay
- Protecting the environment through sustainable and innovative farming practices
- Transparent supply chains without intermediaries
- Guaranteed traceability of hazelnuts back to the farm
- Fair working condition
Fair working conditions
During the harvest season, hazelnut farmers rely on many helping hands. In the small village of Paşalar, 96 farmers are supported by almost 500 harvest workers.
Farmers receive training, and working conditions on the hazelnut plantations are being improved.
“The quality of hazelnuts is about more than taste. Happy Hazelnut-certified hazelnuts also meet high sustainability standards. Only the very best is good enough for our Müesli – and that is what makes them so special.”
Accommodation at the Happy House
Seasonal workers and their families stay in well-equipped accommodation during the harvest season. While their parents are working, children attend school and receive care and support.
Innovative and transparent
The participating farms meet the strict requirements of the Happy Hazelnut certification and are audited to both UTZ and organic standards. Close collaboration with agronomists and the sharing of expertise drive innovative solutions that help improve productivity.
A key local partner and initiator of the project is Işik Tarim. The company purchases hazelnuts directly from farmers without intermediaries before they are cracked and carefully hand-sorted at its processing facility. The commitment of everyone involved sets an example for the entire region.
Learn more about the project at www.happyhazelnut.com
Since becoming a supporting member of the Happy Hazelnut Foundation in 2014, we have actively supported the initiative. Since 2020, all familia Müesli has been made exclusively with Happy Hazelnut-certified hazelnuts. In recent years, we have also sourced more certified hazelnuts than required for our own Müesli and use them in Müesli blends we produce for our customers.
