What strategic vision guided the founding of Castanhas Ouro Verde in 2020?
When Ítalo Toneto founded Castanhas Ouro Verde ® in 2020, he entered the Brazil nut trade with a clear structural vision. At 25, representing a new generation of Amazon agribusiness leadership, he built the company from inception to meet international governance and export standards.
Brazil nuts are collected in remote Amazon regions and must meet microbiological, moisture and export standards before entering regulated markets in Europe, the U.S. and the Middle East. This journey requires coordinated control across sourcing, processing, traceability and compliance.
“Our goal was never to be the largest producer but to be recognized for exceptional quality from the forest floor to the end of the crop,” says Toneto, founder and director.
To achieve that standard, minimum organic certification alone was insufficient. Organic compliance had to function as a complete operating discipline integrating forest origin, industrial processing, food safety and export requirements within a unified system. Governance was embedded from day one, enabling international expansion without compromising product integrity or environmental responsibility.
Castanhas Ouro Verde® directs sourcing, processing and export through a coordinated model connecting extractive communities to final shipment.
Operating from Jaru in the heart of the Amazon, leadership remains physically present and works within the same social and economic fabric as the communities, sustaining supply and maintaining direct relationships with local harvesters.
Traceability from Forest to Export
How does Castanhas Ouro Verde ensure traceability across sourcing, certification, and export compliance processes?
Brazil nut production involves environmental stewardship, chemical and microbiological risk management and continuous documentation from origin to final customer. These variables are supported by internationally recognized certifications.
The compliance framework integrates International Organic Certification across Brazil, the U.S. and Europe through Organic Brazil, Organic NOP and the European Organic Standard, alongside ISO 22000 with FSSC 22000 under implementation. It further incorporates Halal and NSF certifications, as well as SMETA-based social responsibility principles aligned with European Union and U.S. regulatory requirements.
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Our goal was never to be the largest producer, but to be recognized for exceptional quality from the forest floor to the very end of the crop.
Built on this governance foundation, Castanhas Ouro Verde® expanded into more than 18 countries across four continents within five years, connecting the Brazilian Amazon to regulated global markets at an uncommon pace. The company received Best Performance in International Agribusiness at the APEX Awards 2024 and Second Place in the Sustainability Award at APEX 2025, reinforcing its export governance and operational discipline.
Processing for Consistency and Shelf Stability
What processing methods support consistency, shelf stability, and quality in Brazil nut production?
Reliable commercial supply begins with disciplined processing. Natural in-shell drying and moisture homogenization establish a stable baseline that prevents fractures and supports consistent texture. Post-drying size classification ensures even heat penetration during thermal treatment.
A controlled autoclave curve with gradual cooling preserves cellular integrity and natural oils while maintaining density. Stabilized moisture inhibits microbial growth and delays rancidity, ensuring shelf stability without additives. Texture, aroma and consistency result from calibrated thermal control, forming the basis for commercial reliability.
Castanhas Ouro Verde® supplies major supermarket chains and the largest industrial bakery manufacturers in Brazil and Mexico, and is now entering the U.S. industrial bakery market.
These clients require rigorous laboratory validation, texture analysis, and strict consistency and shelf-performance standards.
Partnerships with 25 clients across 20 countries confirm sustained performance, with feedback from Spain, Israel and South Africa highlighting freshness maintained at origin.
Long-Term Supply through Community Partnership
How do community partnerships contribute to long-term sourcing stability and sustainable Brazil nut supply chains?
Long-term sourcing begins with stability at the origin. This commitment is formalized through an agreement with the Rio Branco Indigenous Peoples Cooperative, establishing payment 20 percent above prevailing market prices. The premium supports sustainable Brazil nut collection, forest conservation, ecosystem services and preservation of cultural knowledge.
The company’s philosophy is expressed simply: once a customer, always a friend. Collaboration reflects shared stewardship of forest origin, where economic development and environmental responsibility advance within the same framework.
Human commitment extends beyond commercial activity and borders. In February 2026, CADEXNOR recognized Itamar Souza Silva, founder of the Ouro Verde Group and father of Toneto, for his humanitarian support of Hospital de Amor in Rondônia. This initiative began when he became aware of a Bolivian community geographically distant from us, yet deeply in need of medical and oncological care.
Once aware of this reality, Mr. Itamar acted immediately, mobilizing his network within the hospital to provide free care on a fully voluntary, solidarity-driven, and philanthropic basis. Through this effort, the initiative now enables voluntary oncology care for Bolivian patients from the Amazon region.
For long-term partners, Castanhas Ouro Verde® offers a fully traceable and auditable supply chain grounded in disciplined governance and environmental integrity, ensuring continuity from forest origin to final customer.
