Quinoa was banned in colonial times and is not a staple crop for most people in Peru today. For many years the benefits of this proud Inca food were forgotten. In most parts of the Peruvian Andes, quinoa production became low or nonexistent. In the 20th century some Peruvian scientists were even worried that this crop might disappear altogether. In the 21st century quinoa production has increased dramatically to satisfy world demand. To this day much of the world's quinoa supply comes from Andean smallholder farmers. When prices were high, impoverished farmers' incomes improved dramatically resulting in improved livelihoods and better household nutrition. However, around 2015 farmer prices crashed and have remained fairly low ever since. The poorest demographic in Peru are indigenous smallholder farmers. Generally, they benefit from high prices for their crops. Most quinoa farmers would like to export to premium clients abroad if given the opportunity, and this is their choice. Articles claiming that high quinoa prices were bad for rural Andean populations did not consult adequately with local people in the Andes, and were mostly disproven by later research.

Currently, Peru is the world's #1 quinoa exporter and produces about half of the world's quinoa. Bolivia is the second largest exporter. The vast majority of the world's quinoa supply comes from the Andes. Other countries produce smaller volumes of quinoa. This may change eventually, but it is happening slowly if at all.

Much of the land used in ancient times for quinoa cultivation is now used for other crops and for livestock. Andean farmers often decide what to plant based on prices, and they have a track record of increasing quinoa cultivation when there is sufficient demand. From 2007 - 2014, quinoa production in Peru increased by a surprising 350%. Currently, Peru produces about half of the world's quinoa supply. Over 2/3 of Peru's quinoa comes from just 3 of Peru's 25 regions. This means that there is still a vast potential to plant more quinoa on land that is already being used for agriculture. Quinoa and other ancient Peruvian crops had been in decline for centuries until recent demand for superfoods began to take off. This means that there is a tremendous potential to bring back other crops that were popular in Inca times, such as Tarwi and Kiwicha. When done ethically and sustainably, this can result in better livelihoods for farmers and a positive environmental impact.

In some places quinoa monoculture is a serious problem. Andean farmers in certain communities (and generally with larger sized farms) are using high levels of synthetic pesticides and no longer practice crop rotation. All this results in soil degradation and biodiversity loss. It can also be bad for farmers' and consumers' health. This goes against what we believe, which is why we source quinoa directly from carefully selected farmer groups that practice organic agriculture. By purchasing both organic quinoa and tarwi at above market prices, we are encouraging farmers to earn a better living the natural and sustainable way.