Alexey and Irina Melnik live in the Volyn region and enjoy great respect among the villagers. Indeed, today, in addition to juicy and tasty rhubarb, they are engaged in the cultivation of environmentally friendly hazelnuts.

One hectare of land is already planted with an elite variety of this nut, which was once bred by Italian breeders. “We are not the only ones in our region,” the miller’s spouses say. - Every year more and more farmers plant hazelnut groves. But a unique sort of nut from Italy - only here! ”

Note that in 2018 in the Volyn region there were about 50 hectares of walnut orchards, where only hazelnuts are grown. These figures are four times higher than last year, experts say.

“The result of one season is at least 3 tons of nuts,” Millers say. - And this is from one hectare! Yields are so pleasing that next year we plan to expand the land under hazelnuts - at least twice. ”

To combat the increased kilosity in the soil where hazelnuts were planted, Irina and Alexei planted plants between the rows of walnut trees that reduce acidity, and also added special fertilizers with bacteria to the soil. All in order to grow high-quality and environmentally friendly hazelnuts.

“Why did we decide to grow hazelnuts? Everything is simple, - say Millers. - This nut is rich in nutrients, in calories (about 700 kilocalories), it exceeds 2-3 times bread, 8 times milk, and chocolate. Hazelnuts are high in protein (20%), vitamins B1, B2, C, E and minerals: potassium, iron, cobalt, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, protein. But the most important difference between our grove and others is that with each harvest we deliver to the domestic market nuts of an elite and rare Italian variety, which is of high quality and unique taste! ”

We add that in addition to hazelnuts on the grounds of Melnikov, rhubarb grows, which you will not meet in the nearby fields. Entrepreneurial spouses grow this culture not only for making compotes, jams and pies, but also sell shoots on the Ukrainian market.