In Cotiporã, Rio Grande do Sul, a farmer named Luís de Rossi has made a surprising discovery of rare Brazilian truffles known as Sapucay. He stumbled upon these truffles while cultivating a pecan orchard that existed on his property, not even realizing what they were at first. After taking them to a university for identification, it was confirmed that he had indeed found truffles, which caught even the agricultural extension service, Emater-RS, by surprise.

This discovery has led Luís to adapt his farming methods significantly, including investing in winter pastures to ensure optimal conditions for the truffles' growth. The productivity of the truffles is greatly influenced by weather conditions, and last year's rainfall proved beneficial for the harvest. The price of these rare truffles can reach as high as R$ 10,000 per kilogram, indicating their high market value and the potential economic implications for local agriculture in the region.

The recognition of truffles as a viable crop in Brazil may pave the way for other farmers to explore similar avenues in truffle farming, potentially positioning Brazil on the global truffle market. This discovery not only enhances the uniqueness of Brazilian agriculture but may also encourage further research and investment in rare fungi cultivation, which could help diversify the agricultural offerings in the region.