By P. Milliren
Bob Aman was let go from his job at Hewlett-Packard due to the economy, but instead of complaining about it, he counts it a blessing.
“I consider this as a great opportunity and a new direction to set forth in. Rather than commuting a long distance to work every day, or moving to where there is a job, I created a sustainable one here at home with Tapalamaho Hazelnuts Co.,” he said.
Aman has come full circle. Between he and his brother, Tom, they have returned to the family’s Century Farm in Mount Angel to cultivate, harvest and market their hazelnuts.
Bob markets their all-natural hazelnut products, while Tom handles production, the orchard, and nursery stock sales of the young hazelnut trees to other growers.
The Aman brothers are thankful for the help they received from the state and county on getting their business started.
According to Oregon State University, the first hazelnut trees were planted in the Willamette Valley in 1858, although they did not really take off in production until after World War I. Orchards grew rapidly during the 1980s until the Eastern Filbert Blight when growers started to tear out the trees to stop the disease.
Varieties are now being planted that are resistant to blight. Some of the new varieites the Aman brothers propagate from tissue cultures in their farm’s nursery.
The family farm has a view of the lone butte and abbey in Mount Angel. Tapalamaho was the name chosen for the company because it was the original name given to the butte by the Kalapuya Indians.
The brothers are proud to say every step of their process can be traced from their farm to those who enjoy their hazelnut products.
“We have complete control over the quality of the products from our field to the consumer’s table,” Bob Aman said. “I am also happy that this is a family business. Mom owns the farm, my wife, sister and myself do the product, my brothers, Tim, Tom and Kevin manage and operate the farm.”
“With the grass seed production in a downturn and new cultivators, the hazelnut orchards are returning,” he said. “Producing about five pounds of nuts per tree, we are getting about 500 pounds of nuts per acre. We practice green and sustainable farming practices. Our power is solar, we have been using energy conservation building techniques and the grey water from the production is returned to the land.”
The brothers grow other crops besides filberts. Bob Aman also does on-farm processing of the nuts sold at farmer’s markets and other outlets. Although the nuts are sent out to be washed and shelled, they return to the farm to be dry roasted and flavored.
“I can get about 20 pounds of nuts dry roasted in about two minutes in our on-site machine,” Bob said. “We are also setting up a production room for packaging. The crop is down this year, but the prices are good and people love our product.”
To learn more, visit www.tapalamaho.com.
