Quality supplier foods

FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE ANDES AND THE RAINFOREST

Peru is the world's largest producer of quinoa accounting for just over half of the global supply. Neighbouring Bolivia is the second-largest producer, accounting for just over a third. Despite many importer countries starting to produce the grain internally, Peruvian and Bolivian quinoa continues to be differentiated by its quality and taste, thanks to the high altitudes of the Andes mountains which enable the plant to thrive.

Quality Supplier was established with the purpose of promoting the agro-export of Andean grains, directly supporting Peruvian farmers. The organisation is dedicated to bringing these superfoods to markets around the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Quality Supplier CEO, Gonzalo Yesang Merino, said: “Our mission is to offer global consumers a healthy choice that enhances their lifestyle, while making a positive impact on the farming families who, with their hard work in the field, make every shipment possible. Through our exports, we contribute not only to the well-being of those who are part of our supply chain, but also to the economic growth of Peru.”

Currently working directly with 32 producers (50% of whom are women) in the Puno region, they also purchase from farmers in Ayacucho and Huancavelica at fair prices. They have ambitious plans to increase this number to 100 in the coming year, and to diversify into Bolivia. With regards to long-term plans, they also have aspirations to be one of the top five Peruvian quinoa exporters.

Gonzalo continued: “In Quality Supplier Foods we are committed to working in harmony directly with our producers to ensure we obtain a high quality product, while creating a reliable supply chain.”

Quality Supplier Country Manager Jose Ruiz Raborg, said: “Quality is the main characteristic of our products, and this is the same quality that we seek to promote in our area of direct influence, always seeking improvements in the quality of life of our producers, and generating a quality work environment for all our collaborators”

Shared Interest and Quality Supplier Foods

Earlier this year, Quality Supplier approached Shared Interest for finance to support them to purchase higher volumes of quinoa and gain a more competitive price.

Speaking about the impact of the finance, Gonzalo said: “Shared Interest helps us continue to expand our reach and the commitment we have to the development of farmers in the education and quality of life in their families.

"Our projection is to continue incorporating farmers from the areas of Ayacucho and Huancavelica into our supply chain. We are currently working with 32 producers in Puno for the 2024 campaign, we plan to reach 100 producers for the 2025 campaign from these areas, creating greater opportunities and benefits for them.”

Generations of Growing the Greatest Grains 

Quality Supplier support the farmers by providing training in agricultural practices to improve the soil fertility, which has a direct benefit to the farms’ yields and subsequently the income of the producers. In addition, Quality Supplier performs annual training for all the producers in topics such as environmental and agronomic management. In addition, the organisation has implemented projects related to Organic certification.

The producers mentioned that with training and supervision received, they have managed to improve the yield of their quinoa production, having a much higher income due to this crop.

Quinoa farmer, Coronado Quispe, said: "Before, my parents produced quinoa for their own consumption, and it was a product that was known here in the area (Puno), but that had no value for the people of the capital. Later, it began to become better known outside this area, and they discovered that it is a product with a lot of nutrition.

“I remember that I started planting quinoa to sell to people, together with my parents in 2005 around, and we did it in greater quantity because it was already a product that they asked us for, and it had a good price and gave us more money. From then on, quinoa has become a product that more people want to buy from us, and that helps us to have a little plate to live more peacefully.

“Quality Supplier arrived in this area in 2022 and since then we have had a good relationship. They have taught us things we didn't know to be able to produce more on the plot and they visit us to see how quinoa is doing."

Quality Supplier are committed to paying a fair price to their farmers. As of August 2023, they paid up to 18% higher than the market prices. In line with this, quinoa represents the famers’ highest source of income where producers obtain USD 930 per hectare per harvest on average (average size of 2.5 hectares), while with other crops (i.e. potato, corn; cultivated in other months of the year or when rotating crops) they obtain USD 270 per hectare.

What is quinoa?

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is the seed of the Chenopodium quinoa plant. Quinoa is an ancient South American grain, first grown for food 7,000 years ago in the Andes. The Incas called it “the mother grain” and believed it was sacred. It was largely unknown to the rest of the world until fairly recently. Since then, it has experienced a huge surge in popularity because of its high nutrient content and health benefits. In fact, the year 2013 was named “The International Year of Quinoa” by the UN because of its valuable qualities and potential to fight world hunger.