Working together for Georgian organic hazelnuts

Hazelnut cultivation has a long tradition in western Georgia. However, many farming families find it difficult to process their nuts to a high standard and sell them at a profit. Since 2013, Pakka has been supporting producers in the region in establishing a sustainable hazelnut value chain. Today, the hazelnuts are certified organic and Fairtrade, are processed locally in a modern facility and sold via fair trade in Switzerland and across Europe. ​

Hazelnut cultivation in Georgia

Hazelnut cultivation has a long tradition in Georgia and is an important sector of the country’s agricultural industry. Hazelnut trees are found throughout the country. Four regions of Georgia are particularly important in this regard: Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemosvaneti, Guria and Kakheti. In these regions, growing conditions for hazelnuts are particularly favourable due to the low risk of late frost. Hazelnuts are generally undemanding, but the flowers cannot tolerate temperatures below -8 °C. ​

A sustainable value chain is emerging

In partnership with the aid organisation HEKS and the Georgian NGO ‘Elkana’, Pakka currently supports 700 farming families, each of whom cultivates 1–2 hectares of land and produces 500 tonnes of organic hazelnuts. The producers receive training in organic farming and support with marketing their nuts. They are organised into cooperatives and supply their nuts to the processor Pakka Georgia for free drying and storage. Finally, Pakka Georgia buys the nuts from the farmers at fair prices and processes them further. Thanks to this collaboration, the quality of the nuts, yields and the income of the farming families have increased steadily in recent years. By 2028, the yield is set to grow further to 1,000 tonnes of organic nuts per year. ​

Local processing and jobs

In 2018, a modern nut processing plant was built in Zugdidi, western Georgia. It was financed with the help of Pakka and other partners. Today, the company, operating under the name Pakka Georgia, employs around 35 full-time staff and 115 seasonal workers, who oversee the entire processing chain, from drying, shelling, roasting and chopping to packaging. The nuts are then sold via wholesalers and distributors in Switzerland and Europe. In doing so, Pakka Georgia creates valuable jobs outside the agricultural sector and generates added value in Georgia, the country of origin of the raw materials. ​

Fairtrade as a milestone

Fairtrade certification (FLO) is an important step for the Georgian farming families in the Caucasnut cooperative, but also for Pakka Georgia as a processor and exporter. The Fairtrade premium will help to further improve the living conditions of the farming families and secure them a more stable income. At the same time, Pakka Georgia is the world’s first organic and Fairtrade-certified hazelnut exporter, thereby taking on a pioneering role in the industry.​

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