Controversy, Quantity, and Quinoa
You might have seen some news reports reflecting on a controversy about the beloved Andean quinoa, the superfood of the gods that is a wonder to vegetarians because it is a complete protein. The Huffington Post had a provocative and largely mistitled post “Is Fair Trade Quinoa A Real Thing, Or Has The Superfood’s Popularity Hurt Those Who Grow It?”
Actually, if you read the piece, it is pretty clear that rising prices may be tough for some quinoa consumers but is a boon to producers. But, the challenge may be that production cannot expand to keep pace with demand, which may be a mixed bag for growers, higher prices for the quinoa that is sold but some money on the table for unmet demand (though too much production might mean cheap prices for consumers and low incomes growers). It’s unclear what the ethical sweet spot is for fair trade quinoa but here is news from recent stories about the quinoa market and …
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Their first project takes place in Sua, Ecuador where a group of artisans formed the association “Manglares de Sua.” Their current structure is in dire need of repair! Project directors Julia & Maryanne Chiriboga wish to help this group fulfill their dream of building a functioning art center where they can practice, teach and sell their traditional handicrafts. …
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