They have to wait a year for the nut to finish growing. That means that the supply of Brazil nuts is extremely low. With a high demand for this rare type of nut, its price is high. Nuts such as Brazil nuts require a lot of time to grow.
Why are Brazil nuts so expensive? First of all, Brazil nuts are expensive because they thrive in nature and are not cultivated. In addition, trees take a long time to mature and produce some nuts. For this reason, supply remains low and worsens due to wildfires that decreased the number of trees that produce these nuts. Brazil nuts are very expensive because there is a shortage of supply.
An example of this is the Brazil nut. It grows in the pristine forests of South America, that is, in those forests that have not been disturbed by humans and that still have the few accompanying trees that can pollinate chestnut trees. Brazil nuts require a tropical climate. They need to be harvested wild from the diminishing Amazon rainforest of extremely tall trees.
Why the sudden rise in prices? Quite simply, it was due to a drought in the Amazon caused by the cyclical climate pattern of El Niño that affects the entire Pacific region. The lack of rain means that coconuts fall from trees earlier in the season, resulting in fewer and smaller grains, compromising the supply of the full-size nuts the market seeks. In fact, the magnitude of the supply deficit is such that Brazil has become a net importer of Brazil nuts, which in turn only further aggravates the global shortage of nuts, driving up prices. The nuts are collected by groups of collectors from December to May, who travel to the rainforest to collect the coconuts (pods) that contain the nuts that have fallen from the tree.
There are several aspects of this supply chain that are specific to the Brazil nut industry and that can cause problems. Walnuts grow best in this type of climate, as they grow best during the colder months, except they don't like very cold areas. Because certain South American countries that generally grow Brazil nuts had such a low harvest season after El Niño, this resulted in a low supply in recent years to distribute around the world, making them one of the most expensive nuts on the market. In addition, the drastic drop in Brazil's nut production caused the Brazilian government to ban the felling of these trees.
The price of these items is due to conditions similar to those of pecans and other nuts (global demand, labor required, yield, freshness, and domestic versus Brazil nuts also naturally have a lot of nutritional value, which adds to another reason why Brazil nuts are so expensive. You've noticed that nuts tend to have a higher price compared to other foods, and this is due to a combination of factors. However, if you've ever wondered why these nuts are so valuable, you should learn more about the reason for their high price. This is a very special nut that will only grow under special conditions, and the price of a pound of Brazil nuts reflects that.
In addition to peanuts, which are easier to grow and aren't really nuts, regular nuts are priced higher. If you're looking for premium, expensive nuts, you might have found Brazil nuts along the way. There has also been a rapid increase in demand for nuts, as they have attracted the attention of health-conscious consumers.