Alex Rodrigues

Nuthut is like a specialty shop. Alex sells just nuts, seeds, chocolate, and dried fruit, mostly from small, sustainably run farms. And finding those farmers is one of the main things she focuses on.

Nuthut is like a specialty shop. Alex sells just nuts, seeds, chocolate, and dried fruit, mostly from small, sustainably run farms. And finding those farmers is one of the main things she focuses on.

Nuthut is like a specialty shop. Alex sells just nuts, seeds, chocolate, and dried fruit, mostly from small, sustainably run farms. And finding those farmers is one of the main things she focuses on.

And back in 2020, she makes an amazing find. She's looking on Etsy, trying to find a gift for her kid. And for whatever reason, probably because she runs a nut business, she comes across a page selling what are known as native pecans. And she's curious about them. So she reaches out to the seller and learns that these pecans are from a really special place.

And back in 2020, she makes an amazing find. She's looking on Etsy, trying to find a gift for her kid. And for whatever reason, probably because she runs a nut business, she comes across a page selling what are known as native pecans. And she's curious about them. So she reaches out to the seller and learns that these pecans are from a really special place.

And back in 2020, she makes an amazing find. She's looking on Etsy, trying to find a gift for her kid. And for whatever reason, probably because she runs a nut business, she comes across a page selling what are known as native pecans. And she's curious about them. So she reaches out to the seller and learns that these pecans are from a really special place.

These native pecans grow near where Kansas meets Oklahoma meets Missouri meets Arkansas. And they're sold by a woman in Arkansas named Shirley Rallo. She says, That land is a great place to grow these nuts.

These native pecans grow near where Kansas meets Oklahoma meets Missouri meets Arkansas. And they're sold by a woman in Arkansas named Shirley Rallo. She says, That land is a great place to grow these nuts.

These native pecans grow near where Kansas meets Oklahoma meets Missouri meets Arkansas. And they're sold by a woman in Arkansas named Shirley Rallo. She says, That land is a great place to grow these nuts.

You cannot find these nuts in most grocery stores. Shirley says grocery store pecans are likely coming from Georgia.

You cannot find these nuts in most grocery stores. Shirley says grocery store pecans are likely coming from Georgia.

You cannot find these nuts in most grocery stores. Shirley says grocery store pecans are likely coming from Georgia.

So Shirley, the pecan supplier in Arkansas, ships Alex at Nuthut in Vancouver a little box of these special native pecans to try. And Alex is really impressed. Shirley's right. They taste fantastic. So Alex starts importing Shirley's pecans everywhere. into Canada. And they've been working together ever since.

So Shirley, the pecan supplier in Arkansas, ships Alex at Nuthut in Vancouver a little box of these special native pecans to try. And Alex is really impressed. Shirley's right. They taste fantastic. So Alex starts importing Shirley's pecans everywhere. into Canada. And they've been working together ever since.

So Shirley, the pecan supplier in Arkansas, ships Alex at Nuthut in Vancouver a little box of these special native pecans to try. And Alex is really impressed. Shirley's right. They taste fantastic. So Alex starts importing Shirley's pecans everywhere. into Canada. And they've been working together ever since.

Alex's relationships with her suppliers and farmers are really important to her.

Alex's relationships with her suppliers and farmers are really important to her.

Alex's relationships with her suppliers and farmers are really important to her.

Because, yes, the U.S. put tariffs on Canada, but then Canada put retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. So Alex in Canada, Shirley in the U.S., they are caught in the middle of a trade war. They've built up trust, which is a really valuable thing in business. But now it might become impossible for them to work together to import and export to each other.

Because, yes, the U.S. put tariffs on Canada, but then Canada put retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. So Alex in Canada, Shirley in the U.S., they are caught in the middle of a trade war. They've built up trust, which is a really valuable thing in business. But now it might become impossible for them to work together to import and export to each other.