Hazelnuts from the Lot & Garonne
Mathieu MARTINET, hazelnut producer
The MARTINET family has been growing hazelnut trees for over 10 years on their farm located in the heart of the Dropt Valley in Castillonnès, in Lot & Garonne.
In 2017, Mathieu MARTINET took the farm over from his parents. He then embarked upon a large-scale project that involved : managing all the stages of hazelnut production, from harvesting to sales, including the cleaning, drying, processing and shelling stages.
Name : Les Noisettes de La Canelle
Region : Lot et Garonne – Nouvelle Aquitaine
Country : France
Organisation : family farm
Plantation surface area : 25 hectares
Varieties : Corabel, Pauetet, Fertile de Coutard, Segorbe
Harvest: september
Mathieu MARTINET sets aside 8 hectares of his 25 hectares of orchards for the Corabel variety of hazelnuts. These hazelnuts are sold in their shells and are intended for general consumption, as they are very large but do not have the oil content required for processing. Mathieu MARTINET produces 3 other varieties of hazelnuts for use in cooking, which he sells shelled: Pauetet, Segorbe and Fertile de Coutard.
– Chocolate makers like Pauetet hazelnuts because of their very rich taste and high oil content. They are resistant to cold conditions, vigorous and productive in September.
– Segorbe hazelnuts are slightly larger than Pauetet hazelnuts. They are mainly used in biscuit making because the roasting process brings out their flavours.
– Fertile de Coutard hazelnuts are more sensitive to cold weather and need a mild climate to flourish. This variety is very rich in flavour and is considered one of the high “standard” hazelnuts.
For Mathieu MARTINET, growing hazelnuts involves both patience and passion. Thanks to all the work put in by he and his family, French hazelnuts have a bright future ahead!