Australian Gourmet Hazelnuts, Mudgee, NSW

Clem & Vanessa Cox : Clem and Vanessa’s story is one of passion, patience, and endeavour. In 1997, they were sold 200 hazelnut nursery plants, a large hazelnut cracking machine and the dream of building a hazelnut industry. Their first nursery was on friend’s farm at Budgee Budgee, near Mudgee. Until the trees sold to their first growers began bearing, the Coxes purchased a wide range of hazelnut varieties from Australian growers. They sold value-added kernel at farmers' markets, gleaning valuable information on the unique flavour and cracking performance of different varieties, and consumer acceptance.