Red River Foods is a vertically integrated supplier of nuts, seeds, dried fruit and specialty snacks from all over the world. Their mission is to source the highest quality foods, provide expert market insight and develop sustainable supply chains around the world.

With over 50 products from 40 countries, they focus on fostering environmental consciousness and uplifting communities while sourcing the best quality food. Their teams work directly with farmers and harvesters to improve yields and livelihoods, while their global processing facilities uphold the highest standards in food safety and labor practices.

About The Program

Red River Foods (RRF) began partnering with Junglekeepers in 2021. Through our partnership, we collect Brazil nuts from Peru, and RRF purchases them for processing and distribution in the US market.

They also support our Ranger program by funding two rangers each year. This collaboration incentivizes local communities to preserve the rainforest and utilize its resources instead of resorting to deforestation for short-term gains.


About Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are found deep in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. Brazil nut trees reach up to 200 feet and live for over 500 years, producing more than 250 pounds of nuts annually. In comparison, an almond tree yields only 20-30 pounds per year. The nuts grow inside grapefruit-sized pods, each weighing up to five pounds and containing around two dozen seeds.

Harvesting Brazil nuts is demanding work. Collectors cut open the pods with machetes and transport them on foot through the thick jungle. Thousands of families in the Amazon rely on this income for survival, earning over half their yearly income from Brazil nut harvesting. These nuts grow in remote forests, navigable only by local people and those who know the area.

Brazil nuts are packed with minerals, antioxidants, essential fats, proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates. Eating just two nuts provides you with 160% of the recommended dietary intake of selenium, which aids maintaining a healthy metabolism and may decrease the risk for prostate, colon, gastro- intestinal, lung and breast cancers.

How Brazil Nuts Help Local Communities

When communities engage in Brazil nut harvesting, they earn income from the sale of the nuts rather than from logging, which can lead to government incentives and revenue generation for rainforest conservation. This economic model demonstrates to governments and stakeholders that protecting the rainforest can be financially beneficial. By showing that Brazil nut harvesting is more profitable and sustainable than logging, it encourages policies that support conservation efforts.

Moreover, the revenue generated from Brazil nut exports contributes to local economies, supporting schools, healthcare, and other community services. This creates a positive feedback loop: as communities earn more from harvesting Brazil nuts, they have more reasons to protect the rainforest, thus reducing the pressure to clear land for logging.

Red River Foods and Junglekeepers are committed to preserving the Amazon rainforest and supporting the indigenous communities that call it home. By promoting sustainable Brazil nut harvesting, we help ensure that the forest remains intact for future generations.

If you’re interested in purchasing Brazil nuts, discovering where your food comes from, or learning more about Red River Foods, please visit their website at www.redriverfoods.com