Located between Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay has the geography and climactic conditions to become a capable growing area for peanuts. In fact, arachis hypogaea (the biological name for the peanut) first evolved in the North-western area of Paraguay, in the border area with Bolivia. For a variety of economic and social reasons, peanuts never became a major crop in this land-locked country of 7.5 million inhabitants. Production rarely exceeds 15,000 tons.
Production of peanuts in Paraguay is centered in the Chaco / Boqueron area, though other areas have also been opened up in the past decade. Through our local affiliate Hypergrain, S.A., Nutrin sources a small but growing quantity of its peanuts in Paraguay, from an extremely diverse group of farmers in Paraguay, including traditional Mennonites, modern Mennonites, Brazilian immigrants, and indigenous farmers and cooperatives.