Brazil nuts have been harvested from plantations but production is low and it is currently not economically viable. This has been advanced as a model for generating income from a tropical forest without destroying it. The nuts are gathered by migrant workers known as castanheiros. Brazil nuts for international trade come entirely from wild collection rather than from plantations.

Brazil Nut Nutrition

Brazil nuts are 18% protein, 13% carbohydrates, and 69% fat. The fat breakdown is roughly 25% saturated, 41% monounsaturated, and 34% polyunsaturated.

The saturated fat content of Brazil nuts is among the highest of all nuts, surpassing even macadamia nuts. Because of the resulting rich taste, Brazil nuts can often substitute for macadamia nuts or even coconut in recipes.

Nutritionally, Brazil nuts are a good source of magnesium and thiamine, and are perhaps the richest dietary source of selenium, containing as much as 1180% of the USRDA (U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances), although the amount of selenium within batches of nuts varies greatly.