Almonds Almonds 500 g
Our commitment to fair hazelnuts: Happy Hazelnut
The Happy Hazelnut project is committed to socially and environmentally responsible hazelnut production in Turkey. 2/3 of the hazelnuts produced worldwide are manufactured in this region.
Its objectives include improving the living conditions of migrant workers and their families and preventing child labour. We have been supporting this project since it was established in 2013, and Happy Hazelnut-certified hazelnuts are used in our familia Müesli.
The quality of hazelnuts is more than just what you can taste. Happy Hazelnuts also meet the highest standards of sustainability. Only the best is good enough for our Müesli, making it truly unique.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of hazelnuts are grown, harvested and exported along the coast of the Black Sea in Turkey. A large part of the world’s hazelnut harvest comes from this region – including for Switzerland.
Turkish hazelnuts are known for their exceptional quality, but unfortunately they are also known for the precarious working conditions of the harvest workers. Child labour and lack of schooling are major problems in this respect.
Objectives of the initiative
Through targeted and innovative solutions, the initiative makes a contribution to sustainable, local hazelnut farming in Turkey.
- Preventing child labour
- Improving the living and working conditions of migrant workers and their families
- Fair pay
- Protecting the environment through sustainable, innovative agricultural practices
- Transparent supply chains without any intermediaries
- Guaranteed traceability of hazelnuts back to the farm
Fair working conditions
Hazelnut farmers need a lot of helping hands during the harvest season. In the small village of Paşalar, the 96 farmers are supported by almost 500 harvest workers.
Farmers are being trained and working conditions on the hazelnut plantations are being improved.
Accommodation in the Happy House
The harvest workers and their families live in well-equipped accommodation. The children attend school and are cared for while their parents are at work.
Innovative and transparent
The facilities meet the strict requirements of Happy Hazelnut certification and are audited in line with both UTZ and organic standards. The transfer of knowledge and close collaboration with agronomists leads to innovative solutions, which contribute towards higher productivity.
The local company Işik Tarim is a strong partner and founder. It buys the hazelnuts directly from the farmers, without any intermediaries, before the nuts are cracked at its factory and hand-picked. The commitment of all parties involved sets an example for the entire region.
Find out more about the project at www.happyhazelnut.com Link opens in a new tab..
We have been a supporting member of the Happy Hazelnut Foundation since it was founded in 2014. All of our familia Müesli has been made exclusively with Happy Hazelnut-certified hazelnuts since 2020. In addition, we have been sourcing more hazelnuts than we need for our own Müesli for a number of years so we can also use them in customers’ Müesli blends.
