Hazelnut Quality Inspection in Turkey
Turkey grows roughly two thirds of the world's hazelnuts along its Black Sea coast and supplies most of the global confectionery industry. For buyers, the key questions are kernel quality, aflatoxin, rancidity and, increasingly, social compliance during harvest.
- Season
- August to September
- Main regions
- Black Sea, Marmara
- Category
- Nuts
- Key tests
- Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins; Moisture
01Product overview
- Main varieties include Tombul, Palaz, Çakıldak, Sivri, Kara and Foşa
- Giresun quality refers mainly to Tombul nuts; Levant quality covers other varieties and blends
- Traded in shell, as natural kernels, blanched, roasted, diced, as meal and as paste
- Kernel calibres such as 9 to 11, 11 to 13 and 13 to 15 mm
02Turkish production regions
Ordu, Giresun, Samsun, Trabzon, Sakarya, Düzce and Zonguldak.
03Harvest and production season
Harvest from mid-August to September; new crop kernels ship from autumn and supply continues all year.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August, in season
- September, in season
- October
- November
- December
Typical window: August to September. Timing shifts with altitude, variety and weather. See the full Turkish harvest calendar.
04Export characteristics
Turkey exports to the EU, especially Germany and Italy, and to many other markets. In-shell nuts are dried, often on open yards, then cracked, graded, and processed further by exporters.
05Typical quality parameters
| Parameter | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Calibre | Kernel size distribution by mm |
| Moisture | Kernel moisture within contract limits |
| Defects | Rotten, mouldy, insect damaged, shrivelled, doubles, broken kernels |
| Foreign matter | Shell fragments, stones, husk |
| Blanchability | For blanched product, skin removal percentage |
| Rancidity | Free fatty acids and peroxide value |
Limits and tolerances come from your contract and the applicable standard. We do not apply generic values where a contract specification exists.
06Visual inspection criteria
- Internal mould and discolouration on cut kernels
- Insect damage (including from hazelnut weevil and stink bugs)
- Shell fragments
- Shrivelled and empty kernels
- Rancid odour
07Sampling methods
Mycotoxin sampling follows Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 or the contract method, with incremental samples taken across all bags or cartons in the lot. Quality is assessed on a separate sample examined for size, defects, moisture and foreign matter.
08Laboratory testing
- Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins
- Moisture
- Free fatty acids and peroxide value
- Salmonella and E. coli
- Pesticide residues
Testing is coordinated through laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the required method. See laboratory coordination.
09Food safety and quality risks
- Aflatoxin, particularly in wet harvest years
- Salmonella linked to drying on open ground
- Rancidity in poorly stored stock
- Social compliance during the seasonal harvest
10Packaging and labelling
Jute or PP bags of 50 kg for kernels, vacuum-packed cartons for processed product.
11Storage and transportation
Cool, dry and preferably cold storage; vacuum packing for roasted and processed product.
12Pre-shipment inspection procedure
- Review specification: calibre, grade, moisture, defects and aflatoxin limits
- Confirm lot identity, bag or carton count and production codes
- Take incremental samples across the lot for the laboratory aggregate
- Examine size distribution, defects, shell fragments and foreign matter
- Measure moisture and check for rancidity odour
- Check packaging, labelling and allergen declarations
- Supervise container condition, loading and sealing
- Issue an inspection report and attach laboratory results
13Relevant international standards
Regulations are amended regularly. Always check the version in force for your destination market.
14Conformity TR services for hazelnuts
Food Inspection
Independent inspection of finished and semi-finished food products at Turkish suppliers, carried out against your specification, your label artwork and the rules of your market
Pre-Shipment Inspection
Final random inspection of food, produce and feed before it leaves the supplier, when the goods are packed and ready to load
Laboratory Coordination
Sampling and coordination of laboratory testing through competent external laboratories: microbiology, pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, nutrition, moisture, foreign matter, authenticity and packaging migration
Supplier Audits
Supplier qualification, food safety audits, quality management system audits, GMP audits and GAP assessments for buyers sourcing from Turkey
Loading Supervision
Supervision of truck, reefer container, bulk vessel and flexitank loading, so the goods that were inspected are the goods that are shipped
Crop and Orchard Status Monitoring
Field visits to orchards, vineyards, greenhouses and farms for buyers who have contracted a future crop and want to see its condition before harvest, with dated photographs, video and a written status report
15Questions buyers ask
When is the season for hazelnuts in Turkey?
Harvest from mid-August to September; new crop kernels ship from autumn and supply continues all year. Typical window: August to September. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.
Where are hazelnuts produced in Turkey?
Ordu, Giresun, Samsun, Trabzon, Sakarya, Düzce and Zonguldak.
Which laboratory tests are typical for hazelnuts?
Common tests include aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins; moisture; free fatty acids and peroxide value; salmonella and E. coli. The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.
What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish hazelnuts?
Aflatoxin, particularly in wet harvest years. Salmonella linked to drying on open ground. Rancidity in poorly stored stock. Social compliance during the seasonal harvest.
Can Conformity TR inspect hazelnuts and supervise loading?
Yes. We inspect hazelnuts at the supplier against your specification, coordinate laboratory testing where required and supervise loading, with a photographic report to you the same day.
Request inspection for hazelnuts in Turkey
Send the product, supplier location and timing by email, phone or WhatsApp. We confirm scope, sampling method, laboratory plan and cost before any work starts.
- Food-qualified inspector at the supplier
- Report with photographs the same day
- Independent of the supplier
Inspection request: Hazelnuts
For a fast proposal, include the product and specification, supplier location, destination market and expected dates. We reply in English, usually within one business day.
Related products
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Walnuts
Turkey is one of the larger walnut producers, with extensive new orchards of grafted varieties.
Confectionery
Turkey is a large exporter of sugar confectionery, including Turkish delight (lokum), tahini halva, hard candy, jelly and chewing gum.