‘I am 64, I was born in Salamanca but left when I was 21. There was not work, I went to Santiago for 10 years and then left for Argentina where I worked for a mining company. I had quite a good job, but lost it in the collapse of the economy 7 years ago. We came back here hoping that my pension would be enough. Now I think we will not see a penny. I decided to plant some walnuts so I have an income.’

 

Juan Luis Tapia

Cooperative Agronuez Choapa

Our Fairly Traded Chilean walnuts are the new addition to our nut range; with their delicate flavour, and golden crunch, they arenot only delicious, but help to provide a sustainable way of life for our farmers.

Walnut trees were first planted in the Chilean valleys during the Spanish conquest. Today walnut trees are a vital step on the road to independence and economic security for the 48 members of Cooperative Agronuez Choapa who live in the valleys around Illapel in central Chile. Public transport is poor and telephone communications still intermittent. Family incomes from farming are supplemented by jobs in the mining industry or seasonal labour on commercial farming elsewhere in the country.

Farming is marginal despite 320 days of sunshine.  Plant growth is reliant on an annual bounty of snow melt from the nearby Andean peaks. However there is just not enough water to go around. The government classifies the area as only 30% sufficient with water resources: a situation now exacerbated by illegal water drawing by commercial properties and mining.

Farmer Benefits

Project work supported by INDAP,  part of the government ministry of agriculture (with special remit to support small scale farming) has renovated traditional irrigation channels to improve efficiency of  water use, and encouraged planting tree crops such as walnuts. Our aim is to provide support and encourage to the new cooperative and build its capacity for independent export of shelled walnuts later this year. As the trees grow bigger, volume will increase to offer several hundred tonnes per year.

Extraordinary Quality

The first trial shipment of in-shell Walnuts introduced this high quality nut to British consumers in 2008.

The Serr variety produces a relatively thin shelled and easy to crack nut with a pale amber skin and fine rich flavour. We believe these are some of the best flavoured walnuts available today in Britain.

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