In Honor of Colin
May 1985 - June 2026
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It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our co-founder, thought-partner, and dear friend, Colin Cureton, on June 18, 2026. Midwest Hazelnuts, LLC exists because of a shared vision that Colin helped bring to life: that agriculture could—and should—be fundamentally different. He believed perennial agriculture was more than a new crop. It was a new way of thinking about the relationship between people, land, and community—one that restores soil and water, strengthens biodiversity, creates meaningful economic opportunity for family farmers and rural communities, and leaves the land healthier for future generations. |
Colin Cureton, University of Minnesota’s hazelnut trial field (Sept. 2025). Photo: K.Young
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As Colin often reminded us:
"Agricultural diversification is not about planting different crops. It's about building different systems."
That conviction shaped everything he did.
Colin approached commercialization as an act of stewardship. He understood that scientific discovery fulfills its greatest purpose only when it reaches working farms, strengthens rural economies, restores natural resources, and creates lasting value for the people and communities who steward the land.
He joined the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative in 2019 during a formative period in its growth and helped shape what would become one of the nation's leading commercialization efforts for perennial and winter annual crops. Over the following years, he built and led the initiative's commercialization team, helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world adoption. His leadership extended across strategy, farmer engagement, market development, fundraising, and partnership cultivation.
Colin recognized that breakthrough crops would only succeed if they were supported by equally strong systems—geographically-clustered grower networks, entrepreneurial and technical assistance, innovative markets and supply chains, mission-driven investments, and enduring collaborations. Under his leadership, Forever Green expanded farmer adoption through the EECO program, supporting more than 75 growers across over 5,000 acres, while helping advance statewide partnerships that secured millions of dollars to strengthen markets and supply chains for continuous living cover crops. Whether advancing hybrid hazelnuts, Kernza®, winter camelina, pennycress, or other perennial and winter annual crops, Colin remained focused on the same purpose: transforming promising research into resilient agricultural systems that create lasting environmental, economic, and community benefit.
Building upon more than two decades of research by the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative (UMHDI), and drawing on his experience advancing adoption, commercialization and innovation at Forever Green, Colin co-founded Midwest Hazelnuts with Jason Fischbach in 2023 to help build the supply chains, partnerships, and infrastructure needed for a commercially viable hybrid hazelnut industry to flourish throughout the Upper Midwest.
In recent months, Colin described himself as an innovation architect. It was a fitting description. He understood that successful agricultural innovation requires far more than exceptional genetics. It requires building the systems that allow those genetics to flourish—from propagation and technical assistance to processing, value chain coordination, markets, strategic investment, and enduring partnerships. He viewed commercialization not as the end of scientific discovery, but as the beginning of lasting stewardship: connecting innovation, people, and place to create resilient agricultural systems that could endure for generations.
Through Midwest Hazelnuts and his venture studio Overstory Ventures, Colin worked alongside many others to build the interconnected enterprises, relationships, and infrastructure needed for perennial agriculture to thrive. He understood that lasting change begins with relationships, and that resilient industries are ultimately built intentionally—through trust, collaboration, shared purpose, and the willingness to invest in something larger and more enduring than ourselves.
"Agricultural diversification is not about planting different crops. It's about building different systems."
That conviction shaped everything he did.
Colin approached commercialization as an act of stewardship. He understood that scientific discovery fulfills its greatest purpose only when it reaches working farms, strengthens rural economies, restores natural resources, and creates lasting value for the people and communities who steward the land.
He joined the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative in 2019 during a formative period in its growth and helped shape what would become one of the nation's leading commercialization efforts for perennial and winter annual crops. Over the following years, he built and led the initiative's commercialization team, helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world adoption. His leadership extended across strategy, farmer engagement, market development, fundraising, and partnership cultivation.
Colin recognized that breakthrough crops would only succeed if they were supported by equally strong systems—geographically-clustered grower networks, entrepreneurial and technical assistance, innovative markets and supply chains, mission-driven investments, and enduring collaborations. Under his leadership, Forever Green expanded farmer adoption through the EECO program, supporting more than 75 growers across over 5,000 acres, while helping advance statewide partnerships that secured millions of dollars to strengthen markets and supply chains for continuous living cover crops. Whether advancing hybrid hazelnuts, Kernza®, winter camelina, pennycress, or other perennial and winter annual crops, Colin remained focused on the same purpose: transforming promising research into resilient agricultural systems that create lasting environmental, economic, and community benefit.
Building upon more than two decades of research by the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative (UMHDI), and drawing on his experience advancing adoption, commercialization and innovation at Forever Green, Colin co-founded Midwest Hazelnuts with Jason Fischbach in 2023 to help build the supply chains, partnerships, and infrastructure needed for a commercially viable hybrid hazelnut industry to flourish throughout the Upper Midwest.
In recent months, Colin described himself as an innovation architect. It was a fitting description. He understood that successful agricultural innovation requires far more than exceptional genetics. It requires building the systems that allow those genetics to flourish—from propagation and technical assistance to processing, value chain coordination, markets, strategic investment, and enduring partnerships. He viewed commercialization not as the end of scientific discovery, but as the beginning of lasting stewardship: connecting innovation, people, and place to create resilient agricultural systems that could endure for generations.
Through Midwest Hazelnuts and his venture studio Overstory Ventures, Colin worked alongside many others to build the interconnected enterprises, relationships, and infrastructure needed for perennial agriculture to thrive. He understood that lasting change begins with relationships, and that resilient industries are ultimately built intentionally—through trust, collaboration, shared purpose, and the willingness to invest in something larger and more enduring than ourselves.
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Innovation is often shared and collaborative, rather than siloed. One event does not trigger another; instead, they braid into momentum and legitimacy. Innovation has a rhythm and an arc—it's not a point-in-time event. Innovation has a shape, more like a fractal than a perfect circle or straight line. Perhaps most importantly, innovation cascades—sparks of ideas and small actions can catalyze big changes. - Colin Cureton, Innovation Architect |
Colin possessed a remarkable ability to connect people who might never otherwise have met. Whether meeting with a farmer, researcher, entrepreneur, policymaker, investor, student, or community leader, he listened deeply, welcomed diverse perspectives, and helped others recognize the essential role they could play in something larger than themselves.
As Diane Christofore, Executive Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, reflected: "He could thread needles and sew partnerships together. He planted seeds everywhere he went and never wasted time doing it."
As Diane Christofore, Executive Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, reflected: "He could thread needles and sew partnerships together. He planted seeds everywhere he went and never wasted time doing it."
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Those who knew Colin also knew that his vision was inseparable from his humanity. He worked tirelessly, yet brought deep presence, generosity, thoughtful consideration, creativity, and playful joy into everything he did. He believed meaningful work should also be deeply human—filled with laughter, shared meals, adventure, music, stories, and enduring friendships. |
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Above all else, Colin was a devoted father to his son, Leo. He delighted in Leo's deep curiosity, thoughtful nature, adventurous spirit, kindness, effortless ability to make friends and include others, and his "indomitable spirit". Nothing brought Colin greater pride or joy than being Leo's dad.
Midwest Hazelnuts, LLC was founded as a steward-owned company because Colin and Jason believed purpose and prosperity should reinforce one another. They envisioned a company whose mission would endure across generations while creating shared value for farmers, employees, partners, investors, and the communities it serves. That commitment remains at the heart of our work today.
As we grieve the loss of an extraordinary founder and dear friend, we also recognize that the work Colin helped set in motion continues. His vision, generosity in spirit, and unwavering belief in what this industry could become continue to guide our work. We remain committed to the purpose that inspired Midwest Hazelnuts from the beginning: developing perennial regenerative agroforestry systems that sustain family farmers and rural communities while bringing healthy, delicious, and sustainable foods to families and communities.
Colin often reminded us:
"Change in food and agriculture systems requires everyone—farmers, food companies, researchers, governments, community partners, and citizens. So grab ahold and lift something. It's a really exciting time to be doing this work, and there is a role for us all."
We are profoundly grateful for Colin's life, his friendship, and his strategic vision.
Ever the scout, Colin was always running ahead—exploring new ground, asking the next question, bending the arc and blazing the trail—before returning to tell the rest of us what was possible just around the bend.
His roots run deep. The seeds Colin planted—in fields, in communities, and in people—will continue to grow for generations.
The greatest tribute we can offer is not simply to just remember Colin, but to continue the work he so deeply believed in: cultivating the future he imagined with integrity, collaboration, courage, humility, and care.
In gratitude,
The Midwest Hazelnuts Team
Learn more about Colin's life and legacy
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Contribute to the Dream with Care Fund
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In honor of Colin, please consider a contribution to the Dream with Care fund.
Stewarded by Colin’s family and friends, this fund will support future adventures for his son, Leo, and Colin’s perennial visions of regenerative agriculture in the Midwest. |
Colin & Leo. Door County, WI (2025). Photo: K. Young
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