USDA Buys $34M in Oregon Hazelnuts, Whiting

Oregon hazelnut growers and Pacific whiting processors gain federal purchase support this season.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration of whole hazelnuts beside a pale whiting fillet on a plate, in mustard, teal, cream, and rust. — The USDA will buy $22 million in Oregon hazelnuts and $12 million in Pacific whiting fillets under its Section 32 purchase program this season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support federal spending to buy Oregon farm and seafood products?

The USDA will purchase $22 million in Oregon hazelnuts and $12 million in Pacific whiting fillets under its Section 32 purchase program. The buys follow a push from the Oregon Congressional Delegation and are announced for Oregon producers and seafood processors.

Why it matters

Section 32 purchases are designed to support domestic production and distribution of agricultural goods during periods of significant market disruption and economic uncertainty. For Oregon, where hazelnut and seafood industries are central to the economy, the purchases are expected to provide financial assistance that helps harvesters, processors, and producers keep operating.

This is a federal purchase announcement rather than a clinical or research study. The key figures are $22 million for hazelnuts and $12 million for Pacific whiting, and Oregon accounts for 99 percent of U.S. hazelnut production, but the announcement does not detail delivery timelines or allocation.

The players

Jeff Merkley

Democratic U.S. Senator from Oregon who announced the purchases alongside the Oregon Congressional Delegation.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The federal agency that runs the Section 32 purchase program and oversees federal food and agricultural support.

The details

Section 32 is a USDA purchase program that allows the department to buy surplus agricultural products and distribute them to support markets. The Oregon Congressional Delegation pressed the USDA to include Pacific whiting and Oregon hazelnuts in this year's purchases, and the USDA then announced the buys. Because Oregon supplies nearly all domestic hazelnuts, the hazelnut purchase is closely tied to that state's growers.

Monday, November 2, 2026: USDA announced the hazelnut and Pacific whiting purchases.

Health Landscape

Section 32 purchases are a federal tool for supporting agricultural markets during disruption, and they affect what food reaches institutional and nutrition channels. Pacific whiting and hazelnuts are both nutrient-dense foods, so sustained market support can influence their availability in the broader food supply.

If you buy hazelnuts or Pacific whiting, federal support for producers may help keep these foods steadily available in Oregon and beyond. Anyone with questions about how seafood or nut choices fit their diet is best served by discussing them with a physician or registered dietitian.

The takeaway

Federal purchases like these can stabilize local food producers, which helps keep healthy foods available to consumers. Reviewing nutrition guidance from your own clinician is the best next step for building your diet around foods like hazelnuts and fish.