The Pecan Nut
The fine-shelled Pecan nuts are considered one of the most valuable crops for their outstanding amount of nutritional values. Pecans contain many health-benefiting minerals, vitamins and other nutrients necessary for achieving optimal health. Because of its delicate flavor, the Pecan nut is extensively used in both sweet and savory dishes.
In the USA it is widely used in pies and ice-creams as well as savory dishes. 100 grams of Pecans contain more than 700 kcal. It has few carbohydrates and a high proportion of healthy, non-saturated, fatty acids, and is therefore recommended as an outstanding health-food.
The Queen of Nuts
The Pecan nut helps prevent cardiovascular diseases as well as Alzheimer‘s. Thus their consumption is recommended both by UN agencies, as well as food agencies in the USA and China. For decades, the Pecan nut was a basis of the NASA-astronauts‘ diet in space.
The Pecan tree is a durable and sturdy plant with high production and great lumber quality. The tree grows up to 30 meters (100 feet) in height and continues to grow up to an age of 100 years. At this age, it produces more than 100 kg (220 lbs.) of nuts per year.
Your Health’s Best Friend
(source: www.Hudsonpecan.com)
- Cardiovascular Health: Pecans are rich in fiber which boosts the health of your heart by reducing the risk of coronary heart disease and preventing some forms of cancer.
- The fiber contained in pecans promotes Digestive Health, it prevents constipation and reduces the risk of colitis, colon cancer and hemorrhoids.
- Pecan nut consumption enhances satiety and increases metabolism and Helps in Weight Loss
- Pecans contain oleic acid which Reduces the Risk of Breast Cancer.
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Pecans’ Phosphorus and Calcium help Bone and Teeth Health.
- Anti-inflammatory Benefits reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Rich in nutrients like zinc, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate and phosphorus Helps Maintain Clear Complexion.
- Pecans’ Magnesium Reduces the Risk of Stroke & Reduces Blood Pressure.
- Pecans’ polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein and zea-xanthin all are Anti-cancer Properties.
- Pecans’ Manganese, numerous antioxidants including ellagic acid, vitamin A and vitamin E Strengthen the Immune System & Anti-aging Benefits.
Our Location
Our current plantations are located in the south of the province of Corrientes, approximately 700 km (400 miles) North of Buenos Aires. This area was chosen for its perfect subtropical climate as well as its excellent quality of soil providing excellent conditions for the production of pecan nuts:
•Quality Soil •
• Untapped Markets •
• Proven Track Record •
• Expansion Minded Government •
• Inexpensive Land Prices •
• Dependable Water Supply •
• Committed Connected Leadership •
• High diversity of pecan species with proven genetic quality•
Why Corrientes?
Overall, the province of Corrientes has optimal conditions for pecan exploitation in terms of soil, climate and water availability. Today pecans are practically exclusively produced in the northern hemisphere.
Pecán Argentina, being in the southern hemisphere, benefits from additional attractiveness amongst customers and producers by producing pecan nuts in the counter season.
Argentina has a sophisticated agricultural structure and the world‘s highest level on agricultural mechanization and technification, which guarantees high efficiency.
There is great technical support:
- Government institutions like the Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA), which works closely with Pecán Argentin
- Privately organized producer’s associations, such as Grupo ProPecan or Cappecan
The number of farmers who grow pecan in Argentina, despite promotion by Argentina‘s agricultural authorities, is still relatively low (about 400). This creates a medium to long term niche that we occupy. As an emerging market, Argentina ensures fair wages to their employees, making the cost of workers relatively high, but the cheap land ensures that this social responsibility does not become a burden.
Irrigation & Agronomics
A high production level is guaranteed by perfect subtropical growing conditions, excellent quality of soils and full technical support from governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations and civil society interest groups. Naturally occurring hazards such as low precipitation, fires or pest infestation are countered by an efficient irrigation system and effective preventive measures.
Water is Our Ally
In the past, most fluctuation in price on the world market have been caused by the irregular water supply. Pecán Argentina has taken the adverse effect a lack of rainfall could have on our harvest very seriously. To counter any lack of precipitation, a drip irrigation system has been installed.
Through a vast system of tubes running through the whole orchard and spanning several kilometers, the system is extremely efficient. This guarantees a steady production volume for each harvest, including during periods of low rainfall. Naturally occurring hazards such as low precipitation, fires or pest infestations are countered by our efficient irrigation system and other preventive measures.
Prevention against fire, pest and climate change
Especially during winter, there is an increased risk of fire, as piles of leaves can form. All risks will be avoided. The proposed plantation also prevents fires and pests in its planning, by providing broad access routes and fire barrier paths in each orchard, separating the trees. The existing irrigation system additionally allows a rapid fighting of fire thanks to its vast network of supply pipes.
Even the current estimates of the IPCC on climate change (expected temperature rise in the next 100 years of up to 6.4 °C / 10.8 °F in South America) would not affect the plantation because they are still in the range of ideal temperatures.
The number of pests that can affect Pecan trees, by default much lower in Argentina than in the U.S., are countered by the following preventive measures:
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Elimination of pest breeding grounds (such as leaf piles or rotten wood);
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Ongoing preventive control programs
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Selecting particularly robust species of Pecan trees
Our Community
Our people and our community are very important to us. Pecán Argentina initiates and provides continuous training and educational programs for our orchard employees. Specialized orchard-specific training for Gauchos in cooperation with the INTA, other national institutes and universities have also been prioritized and put in place.
Pecán Argentina’s philosophy is to be active members of the community in the area and to help with many infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood as well as creating the first opportunities for female employment within the remote rural area.
We believe that what is invested into the people, the community and the infrastructure will reflect positively back into the orchard, facilitating its continuous growth and development enabling Pecán Argentina to become the world market leader in its sector.
Our existing contributions to the community welfare:
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First employer of women locally
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Building brick-homes for our staff
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10 miles of power line for 20 families
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Training of local horticultural students
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First Elementary School student transport
Love for Nature
We work with nature, not against it.
Pecán Argentina links economic attractiveness with environmental sustainability. It proves that profitability, community involvement, and social responsibility can engage with each other.
Knowing that we must work with nature and not against it, we have taken these measures into account:
• Quality Soil •
• Use of primarily ecologically sound, natural fertilizers •
• Setting up an environment-friendly drip-irrigation system •
• Planning of a very extensive, semi-natural cultivation •
• CO2 balance •
• Maintenance of an overall healthy biosphere with high biodiversity •
• Minimal use of fossil energy and broad use of renewable energies •
• Initial focus on regional sales •
Minimum impact on the environment
Pecán Argentina observes and respects its responsibility towards nature. Only ecologically sound and natural fertilizers are used on the orchard.
Respecting eco-friendly policies, the environment and its ecosystem in Goya, Corrientes, Pecán Argentina obeys the principles of natural farming and those of good practice farming outlined by Buena Practica Agricola.
This means that the least amount of chemical fertilizers is applied by adopting a standard between conventional and organic farming proposed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations). These fertilizers are used at the beginning to encourage growth and durability. Pecán Argentina is therefore not yet an organic orchard, but aims to be entirely organic after two years.
Our existing 500 hectares (1,250 acres) of pecan tree plantations already have positive impact on carbon footprint, by capturing 4,350 tons of CO₂ per year.
Visit the Orchards
All partners in Pecan AR are invited to visit the orchards. Pay us a visit to see your land, your trees, and day-to-day activities in your company.
We recommend April & May
The best time to visit Pecán Argentina is April or May, at the time of the harvest. With the trees in full growth, we find that to be the most enjoyable time for our visitors.
However, if you would like to actually participate in the planting and grafting of new pecan trees, you are more than welcome to join us then as well. In June, is time for maintenance operations, every July we are planting, in August we are pruning, and from September to March we are watering and grafting the new saplings.
