One of the largest hazelnut processing companies in Europe wants to buy up the complete hazelnut yield of the eastern Slavonia region in Croatia.

Italian company Besana are in search for hazelnuts and walnuts of all variety's, dried fruit, pumpkin seeds, berries and other seeds and fruits that are processed in the outskirts of Naples, reports portal Tportal.

A meeting in Osijek yesterday (Thur) with more than 60 hazelnut growers from the region and Besana's Croatian representatives saw a pricing plan presented for the hazelnuts. For the hazelnuts still in their shell the purchase price of 11.50 kuna (1.70 Euros) per kilo was announced, whilst the Italians were prepared to pay around 5 Euros for cleaned hazelnuts.

Vlado Marinello, director fo the Croatian company Sumako who represent Besana, says that they can not get enough of the hazelnuts which are in short supply.

"We could buy five or six times more hazelnuts than what is produced in this region", said Marinello.