A bizarre and, well, nutty fight is happening over naming N.J.’s official state nut

By Gavin Schweiger, nj.com

It’s a designation so esteemed, it’s got legislators in Trenton ready for a cutthroat fight.

New Jersey’s official state nut.

Across the land, Nutella lovers rejoiced last week when the state Assembly voted on legislation to name the hazelnut New Jersey’s state nut.

The catch? New Jersey only started growing hazelnuts commercially in 2020.

Naming a nut that doesn’t have a long history in the state as its official nut? That’s nuts!, some legislators say. But to others, that’s exactly the point of the designation. Cue the boxing bells. Ding-ding!

The bill’s writer, state Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, D-Middlesex, said the naming would be an “ode” to the research that is bringing hazelnuts to New Jersey.

Stanley called the hazelnut trees “a true breakthrough in science that reinforces why we are known as the Garden State” during the session.

The legislation (A3392) passed the Assembly with a vote of 58-15.

“Why on earth do we need a state nut?” Assemblyman Brian Bergen, R-Morris, said at the session. “This moronic, awful, stupid, crazy, nutty piece of legislation shouldn’t even be up for a vote today.”

Others wondered if there was a better choice to take a crack at the title, like the more native American chestnut.

“Is the hazelnut indeed the proven nut?” Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn, R-Morris asked. She further noted that unlike the hazelnut, the blueberry — which is the state fruit — has been a part of New Jersey agriculture since the early 20th century.

There are a few types of hazelnuts native to New Jersey, but they’re not the same nuts from Nutella and candy bars. They are small and have very thick shells.

Only around 5% of commercial hazelnuts come from the United States, and almost all of them come from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the bill said.