Agri Australis are set to plant one million hazelnut trees on two farms near Narrandera in south-western NSW as part of a new $70m development.
The nuts are being grown for Italian chocolate maker Ferrero, with most of the nuts initially being exported to Europe, ABC Rural reports.
“They will be sent overseas for processing, but certainly the long term goal is just to have the processing done in Australia, to have the complete traceability of the food chain here and use what is in excess overseas," said Ferrero’s managing director Alessandro Boccardo.
Director of technical services at Narrandera Shire Council, Frank Dyson said that the project will bring significant value to the local community.
"It's a fantastic development, it will bring stable employment,” said Dyson
"It will also bring seasonal employment during the harvest period."
The first commercial crop is expected to be ready in around four years time with full production capacities reached in eight years.