Pine nut harvest in Santa Catarina is estimated at 4 thousand tons

The pine nut harvest in Santa Catarina opened this Saturday, April 1, with an initial prospect of production of 4 thousand tons, 50% less than last year, when 8 thousand tons of seed were harvested in the State. The estimate is from Epagri's Regional Management in Lages, based on a survey carried out with producers.   

José Márcio Lehmann, regional manager at Epagri in Lages, analyzes that the drop in production is related to periods of drought. “This is an important crop for the mountainous region, but this harvest is worrying,” he laments. 

The municipality of Panel, the largest producer of pine nuts in the State, is expected to harvest 1,8 thousand tons of the seed this year, compared to 2,4 thousand in 2022. César Arruda, Epagri extension worker in Panel, explains that, despite the climatic complications, the The municipality has a specific microclimate, which favors the production of araucaria and prevents greater losses. 

However, in other municipalities in Serra Catarinense, there are locations that expect to harvest up to 70% less this year than in 2022, reveals César. “When visiting producers, we have noticed a decrease in the number of pine cones per tree”, describes the extension agent.

The pine nut harvest in Santa Catarina continues for the next three or four months, a period in which the initial estimate may be revised.