“A Business Model for Environmentalism - “Eat More Nuts….” An experiment in saving the planet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 30, 2007 -- “A Business Model for Environmentalism - “Eat More Nuts…”

“Eat more Nuts?” That is exactly what we will all be doing if a local agriculturist & research entrepreneur has his way in Colorado. “I would like to make eating Piñon Nuts (e.g. Pine Nuts) synonymous with the experience of living & visiting Colorado.

Why Pine Nuts?

Pine Nuts – the tasty seeds of certain Pine Species – harvested as food for centuries by Native Americans – may represent an ideal agricultural crop for a changing planet. Ethno-botanists & archeologists believe Anasazi Indians settled in the Four Corners region because Piñon Nuts provided a year round source of protein - when in winter - wild game animal protein was scarce. “Wild Pine Nuts (Piñon Nuts) are fully 128% more efficient than beef protein production per acre, when you include water usage”. Piñon trees are among the most “drought hardy” of plant species – a worthwhile trait when western US agriculture is running out of irrigation water. But, currently, over 80% of the $49 million dollars in Pine Nuts consumed in the U.S. Pine Nut market are IMPORTED FROM CHINA. “We have thousands of US households who buy & eat Pine Nuts - unaware of their true Chinese origin” - surprising given the Chinese record for food inspections or food quality”. Pine Nuts provide a significant source of protein – in levels surpassing even pecans & walnuts - with significant amounts of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin – “they really have no food rival in the nut world”. Additionally, Piñon trees (and the harvesting of their nuts) do not damage the land like a herd of carbon producing & ‘plant trampling’ livestock. Piñon trees naturally function as a “great carbon sink” for the planet by removing carbon from the atmosphere with 3.2 million acres (22%) of Colorado Pinon woodland forests providing carbon sequestration benefits. “Certainly, as consumers find they are unknowingly getting more of their protein from eating ‘cloned beef protein’’ the thought of adding a wild & natural protein to their diet - like that found in Piñon Nut’s – is appealing to the health conscious”.

Vision of the Future - Colorado Piñon Nut Orchards?

In looking to the future, it is possible to see increasing numbers of Farmer’s and Landowners throughout the southwest regions (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona) start to awake to the benefits of now managing their unprofitable arid Piñon Woodlands as active “Piñon Nut Orchards”. Developed breeding, pollination & tree cultivation practices – already in use to improve crop yields on Pecan, Walnut,Pistachio & even Apple Orchards can be applied to economic benefit on a Piñon Nut Orchard. “A farmer can create either a transplant or seedling seed orchard, or enhance the productivity of the native Piñon trees already on the land too” said Alan Peterson. And with Piñon nuts selling for over $15 a pound - this really does represent a new: “Business Model for the Environment.”