The EasyNut Tecnología advisor addressed nut producers at the Club de la Unión in Curicó, delivering a technical and market outlook on Chile’s fastest-growing tree nut crop.
Curicó, May 26, 2026. At the Nuts Technical Day held at the Club de la Unión in Curicó, Gustavo Mendoza, advisor at EasyNut Tecnología, presented a technical and commercial overview of the hazelnut industry, warning that although Chile is experiencing a production boom, “quality will determine our future.”
The numbers speak for themselves: Chile has expanded from 8,686 hectares in 2014 to more than 60,000 hectares today, according to the Chilean Hazelnut Committee, with an additional 5,000 hectares projected to be planted annually. In this context, Mendoza positioned Chile as the world’s most competitive origin, combining the highest yields per hectare with the lowest production costs per kilogram, even as Turkey and China continue to increase their presence in global supply.
He identified alternate bearing—the tendency for trees to produce a heavier crop one year and a lighter crop the next—as one of the industry’s main challenges. According to Mendoza, it can be mitigated through annual pruning, strong root system development, balanced nutrition with an emphasis on potassium, and timely climate management. He also stressed that orchard management during the first five years “sets the production ceiling” for the life of the orchard.
Regarding crop physiology, Mendoza highlighted fruit set as the most sensitive stage, where the timely use of biostimulants can significantly influence results. Irrigation, meanwhile, was described as responsible for up to 80% of final performance, determining nut size, kernel filling, and the reserves available for the following season. He also warned about photo-oxidation during periods of extreme heat, a phenomenon that reduces effective photosynthesis and kernel development.
On the phytosanitary front, Mendoza identified stink bugs as a direct threat to quality, stating that “seeing a stink bug means it’s time to spray.” He also addressed the management of Xanthomonas and wood diseases through improved ventilation, pruning, and well-targeted spray applications.
Mendoza concluded with a broader reflection: “Today, the technology exists to achieve high yields; the difficult part is changing the mindset.” The industry has the necessary tools, but the real challenge lies in adopting them quickly enough to keep pace with the sector’s growth.
The Nuts Technical Day was organized in Curicó as a technical update event for nut growers and advisors from Chile’s Maule Region.
