Press Release: All hazelnuts for familia Müesli from sustainable cultivation by Happy Hazelnut
The Happy Hazelnut project is committed to socially and environmentally responsible hazelnut production in Turkey. One of its goals is to improve the living conditions of harvest workers and their families. bio-familia has supported the project since its inception and, as of 2020, exclusively sources Happy Hazelnut-certified hazelnuts for familia Müesli.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of hazelnuts are grown, harvested and exported along Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. A large proportion of the world’s hazelnut harvest comes from this region, including hazelnuts destined for Switzerland. Turkish hazelnuts are renowned for their excellent quality, but unfortunately also associated with precarious working conditions for seasonal workers. This is where the Happy Hazelnut project, launched in 2013, comes in. Through practical and innovative solutions, the foundation aims to make a local contribution to more sustainable hazelnut production in Türkiye.
Many helping hands needed
During the harvest season, hazelnut farmers rely on many seasonal workers. In the small, idyllic village of Paşalar, 96 farmers are supported by almost 500 seasonal workers. While workers and their families elsewhere may live in tents without sanitary facilities, those in Paşalar stay in well-equipped accommodation provided by certified farmers or at the Happy House.
At the height of the season, the Happy House accommodates around 80 people and provides childcare during the day. While their parents are working, children can attend school and receive care and support. In this way, the project helps prevent child labour during the harvest.
“We enjoy coming back to Paşalar every year. They are very kind to us at the Happy House,” says Cansel Cangir, a seasonal worker who comes to Paşalar with her family.
For socially and environmentally responsible production
Alongside the prevention of child labour, the Happy Hazelnut project has several core objectives: improving the living conditions of migrant workers, ensuring fair pay, creating transparent supply chains without intermediaries, guaranteeing traceability of hazelnuts back to the farmers, and promoting sustainable and innovative agricultural practices.
The farmers meet the strict requirements of the Happy Hazelnut certification and are audited to both UTZ and organic standards. Knowledge sharing and close collaboration with agronomists lead to innovative solutions that help improve productivity.
A key local partner and initiator is Işik Tarim. The company purchases the hazelnuts directly from farmers without intermediaries. The nuts are then cracked and hand-sorted at its processing facility. The commitment of everyone involved sets an example for the entire region.
