1957

My great-grandparents, Wayne and Mable Bridge, purchased the farm in the early 1950s. It has been cherished and passed down through four generations with the shared goal of achieving century farm status.

My name is Anthony. My mom, Bari, and I own and manage the property. B&B Orchards has been in our family for four generations, and I'm proud and excited to continue old family traditions while helping the farm to grow. Agriculture has always been a big part of my life. After gaining experience working for a prominent local research farm, I earned my Masters in Horticulture from Oregon State University. I'm passionate about permaculture, organic food practices, and sustainability, and I hope to incorporate those things more and more into our family's farm as we continue to plan for expanding and diversifying this beautiful property.

Roots in Time

Discover the timeless legacy of our 52-acre farm. Farmed by my great grandparents and passed through four generations, this land thrived with oats, wheat, and grass seed before the filbert orchard. Planted in the 1950s and 60s, the orchard's aging trees, though fading, hold stories of the past. To continue the narrative, we've interplanted new trees between them, symbolizing the promise of new growth and preserving its rich history. Wander through time with satellite photos capturing the property in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1970, and 2020.

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Is it a Filbert or a Hazelnut?

There’s truly no wrong answer. “Filbert” is the correct name for both the tree and nut. The name is of French origin, and filbert trees were likely first introduced into Oregon by early French settlers. Some thought “filbert” was derived from St. Philibert, as August 22nd is dedicated to him, corresponding to the earliest ripening date of filberts in England.

“Hazelnut” is the name coined by the English and applied to the native species by early settlers. In 1981, the Oregon Filbert Commission decided to conform to the common standard and began emphasizing “hazelnut.”

Fun Filbert Facts

  • 99% of the U.S. hazelnut crop is produced right here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

  • The hazelnut became Oregon’s official State Nut in 1989.

  • About 1,000 Oregon farm families grow hazelnuts on 87,000 acres.

  • Hazelnut trees can produce until over 100 years of age.

  • The hazelnut is unique in that it blooms and pollinates in the middle of winter. Wind carries the pollen from yellow catkins to a tiny red flower, where it stays dormant until June, when the nut begins to form.

  • The nuts mature during the summer months, turning from green to shades of hazel nestled in a protective husk, and are harvested in September or October after they have fallen to the ground.

  • In 1858, the first cultured hazelnut tree was planted in Oregon by retired Hudson’s Bay Company employee, Sam Strictland in Scottsburg.

  • In 1903, George Dorris of Springfield started the first commercial orchard with more than 200 Barcelona hazelnut trees. Barcelona is the most prominent variety grown in Oregon today.