David Cuneo // President, New Mexico Pinon Nut Company
What is a pinon nut?
It's a nut from the state tree of New Mexico, a variety of pine nut, known as pinon, from the Edulis variety of pine tree--a desert pine.
You sell quite a few of the nuts around Albuquerque. What are these buyers using the pinons for?
Most people snack on them as is, roasted, salted and delicious. We’ve had meeting planners call us to order four-ounce bags for pillow gifts or take home gifts. There are people who make piñon candies and the local favorite coffee is made from piñon nuts, as well. Recently a microbrewery ordered some and wanted to experiment, somehow adding it to the process. There are also many Native American recipes that use the piñon nut.
They seem to be quite expensive. Why is that?
First, because these are a hand-gathered crop picked in the wild. Native Americans literally get on their hands and knees to gather the nuts and sell whatever they don't keep to people like me. No other crop is wild gathered like this; it's very labor-intensive. Also, it’s supply and demand. Twenty years ago there was a die off brought on by an extended drought. About 15 to 20 percent of the trees in the four-state region died in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah where they grow. That seven-year drought ended and ever since the price has been through the roof.