Meet the Team

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Jason Fischbach - Co-founder

• 18+ yrs hazelnut breeding, agronomy & industry development
• Built & operates the only commercial hazelnut processing facility in Upper Midwest
• Founder/co-owner of 3 agricultural LLCs
• Emerging Crops Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison​

Contact: [email protected]
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Colin Cureton - Co-founder (In Memoriam)

• 15+ yrs food systems transformation
• 7 yrs leading perennial & CLC crop commercialization (UMN Forever Green)
• Innovation architect, economist, analyst, strategy
• Co-Founder, Overstory Ventures

Colin's strategic vision, thoughtful consideration, generosity, and unwavering belief in what this industry could become continue to guide our work. Ever the scout, running ahead to explore new ground and blaze the trail, Colin helped the rest of us see what was possible and how to get there. We remain deeply grateful for the paths he illuminated and all he cultivated in his footsteps.

We've created an In Memoriam page honoring our beloved co-founder, thought partner, and friend. We invite you to visit the page to remember and celebrate his life, his legacy, and the lasting impact he had on the Upper Midwest hazelnut community.

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Katherine (Kata) Young - 
Agroforestry Development Specialist

• 20+ yrs agroforestry, soil health, ecological restoration, rural development

• Joint MFS in agroforestry, ecosystem restoration, Yale University 
• ISA Certified Arborist, Sales Arborist
• Lead Author, Natural Climate Solutions Roadmap to Net-Zero by 2050 for Wisconsin Agriculture (2026)
• Founder, Katalyst LLC​​

Contact: [email protected]

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