Our love for hazelnuts began in 1985, when Michael, the founder of Newcomb Nut Farm, went to study in Siena, Italy. One winter evening, as he walked back to his apartment from the city center, his breath suddenly filled with the sweet, toasty aroma of something irresistible. Following the scent to a small market stall, he tasted roasted hazelnuts for the first time, and in that moment, they became an obsession. Over the course of his stay, it’s fair to say thousands of hazelnuts met their fate at the hands of Michael’s newfound appetite.

Nearly twenty years later, back in the United States, the memory of those rich, warming nuts was all but forgotten — until an old family friend, Bill, approached Michael about selling his land in the heart of Amish country. The opportunity instantly reignited Michael’s long-lost passion, and the idea of bringing that same joy to America began to take shape. But there was a problem: hazelnuts aren’t commonly grown in the U.S. for a reason. Traditional hazelnut trees favor mild, stable climates and don’t fare well in places like Ohio, where the weather swings from freezing to humid in a matter of months.

Despite this significant challenge, Michael refused to let the dream die. He sought out specially developed varieties of hazelnut trees that could withstand harsher conditions. And in 2017, he planted Ohio’s very first hazelnut farm, right here on Newcomb Road.

Fed by two natural springs, basking in full sun, rooted in chicken-fertilized, well-drained soil, and never treated with pesticides or herbicides, our trees thrived. The nuts they gave us were worth the wait, deeply flavored, buttery, and praised by connoisseurs as even more delicious than their celebrated Italian and Turkish counterparts.

Today, Newcomb Nut Farm is a family business with a single mission: to share the rich warmth and unforgettable flavor of hazelnuts with families across the United States.