Brazil nuts, one of the best natural sources of selenium (a very powerful antioxidant), grow wild in the Amazonian Rainforest. This is one of very few crops that doesn't damage the ecosystem, but helps to sustain it. Harvesting brazil nuts is now seen as a viable long term economic alternative to logging.

Brazil nut collecting is very hard work that is done during January, February and March. The 1-3 kg pods are gathered together in the stands of huge thirty-metre Brazil nut trees. They are then carried on foot along muddy tracks to collection points on the river and ferried to Puerto Maldonado for processing.

The supply comes from Peru and is collected by 97 small families around Puerto Maldonado. Income from the sale of brazil nuts helps fund projects with groups of native gatherers.