Johannes Olejnik spent three years figuring out the logistics of turning tiny seedlings, the product of tissue-culture micro-propagation, into thriving hazelnut orchards that generate supplemental income for rural farming families in Bhutan. From a high-tech lab in China, through two climatically different greenhouses, and then across huge mountains and sometimes impassable roads, the seedlings make their way to the farmers. 

Mountain Hazelnuts has a cadre of motorbike-riding horticulturists who connect with remote farmers by text and over farm roads to support the nurturing of the young hazelnut trees. Tree pick-up and harvest drop-off points accessible to farmers have been carefully plotted throughout the geographically challenging region.

Mountain Hazelnuts plans to plant millions of hazelnut trees on deforested mountain slopes. The enterprise increases Bhutanese farmers' economic independence by generating a high-value export crop for international markets. The company is dedicated to positive outcomes for its communities and the environment while generating a profit. This is what is known as a "triple bottom line" company.

 Mountain Hazelnuts started from scratch in 2009 and is now that country's largest private-sector employer. It raises rural farm income by cultivating hazelnut trees on otherwise fallow land. It is expanding the export market for its hazelnut crop.

Ferrero (parent company of Nutella) is the world's biggest consumer of hazelnuts, and currently most of those are grown in Turkey.

Mountain Hazelnuts sees opportunities as Turkey's hazelnut industry is slowly losing its competitive advantages. As well, Mountain Hazelnuts is actively developing a customer base in China. And it is growing its trees and designing its logistics to work within Bhutan's challenging infrastructure. The company bases its strategy in respect for the integrity and strengths of the individual family farms with which it contracts.