Ecuador RPCV Bob faces problems importing organic quinoa



The eruption of the Tungurahua volcano, severe frost, mudslides and then drought were major hurdles that cut the Leventry's Ecuadorian quinoa production from 500 metric tons in 2005 to 100 metric tons in 2006. "The eruption of Tungurahua was not a problem, but the ash was. We had 16 centimeters of ash on our lower fields. Wiped those out," Bob Leventry said. "People (in the United States) used to say to me, 'Quinoa, what's that?' Now most people we talk with have heard of quinoa. If nature is kind, we could be back to 500 metric tons and probably much more. Maybe 600 or 700 metric tons in 2007." After nearly a decade of building up markets in the United States and Great Britain, it was frustrating for the Leventrys to watch wholesale customers drop away because there was no quinoa to fill orders. But what bothered the Leventrys more than lost markets was watching indigenous farmers suffer greatly and shift to other subsistence crops.

Ecuador RPCV Bob faces problems importing organic quinoa

Postscripts*

Dec 29, 2006

State Journal-Register Springfield, IL

Welcome to the annual Postscripts issue, in which we catch up with people written about in The State Journal-Register during the last few years.

For this last Heartland magazine of 2006, we revisit a variety of people and places, from a former Peoria couple working for free trade in Ecuador, to a street musician and downtown Springfield fixture, to a young man struggling to get his life on a more successful track, to a boy learning to manage his autism among classmates.

[Excerpt]

Farming for change

Former Peorians Marjorie and Bob Leventry can measure social progress by the metric ton. It's been a sparse year.

After retiring from jobs in central Illinois and working with the Peace Corps in Ecuador for two years, the couple started Inca Organics in 1998 to provide markets for indigenous Ecuadorian farm co-ops growing organic quinoa (pronounced keen-wa). Since their company was founded, quinoa has become increasingly recognized in the United States as a "super food." It's the only plant-based complete protein.

While recognition and markets grew in 2006, Ecuador suffered dramatic crop losses.

The eruption of the Tungurahua volcano, severe frost, mudslides and then drought were major hurdles that cut the Leventry's Ecuadorian quinoa production from 500 metric tons in 2005 to 100 metric tons in 2006.

"The eruption of Tungurahua was not a problem, but the ash was. We had 16 centimeters of ash on our lower fields. Wiped those out," Bob Leventry said.

"People (in the United States) used to say to me, 'Quinoa, what's that?' Now most people we talk with have heard of quinoa. If nature is kind, we could be back to 500 metric tons and probably much more. Maybe 600 or 700 metric tons in 2007."

After nearly a decade of building up markets in the United States and Great Britain, it was frustrating for the Leventrys to watch wholesale customers drop away because there was no quinoa to fill orders. But what bothered the Leventrys more than lost markets was watching indigenous farmers suffer greatly and shift to other subsistence crops.

To help, the couple pursued two major new business strategies. They entered a relationship with Ecologic Development Fund of Cambridge, Mass. The Leventrys have personally collateralized a $100,000 loan that will help their Ecuadorian farmers regain market share.

The couple now is working with Randimpak, a female cooperative headed by former Ecuadorian presidential candidate Maria Eugenia Lima. Randimpak is a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping women whose husbands have been forced to leave Ecuador to search for jobs.

"The husbands don't want to move to the United States. They want to follow the indigenous way of living off the land. If there were fair markets, the men could come back and make enough money to support families," Marjorie Leventry said. "Randimpak is empowering for these women."

Bob Leventry said the alliance between his company and Randimpak will help provide a stable supply of quinoa.

"This is a very positive development," he said. "We now have close to 10,000 farmers spread out over a larger area so freezes, droughts and volcanoes will not have as devastating an effect on our supplies."

For more information about Inca Organics or to contact the Leventrys, go to http://www.incaorganics.com.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2006; Peace Corps Ecuador; Directory of Ecuador RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Ecuador RPCVs; Business; Agriculture; Organic Food

When this story was posted in January 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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All Volunteers Safe in Fiji All Volunteers in Fiji are safe and accounted for. The Peace Corps is monitoring the situation very closely. Volunteers are on standfast but there are no plans for evacuation at this time. Peace Corps is working closely with the US embassy and with host country partners to monitor the situation. Peace Corps is confident that volunteers are not in harm's way. The military seized control of Fiji on December 5 after weeks of threats. Subscribe to our news feed to read the latest breaking news.

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December 8, 2006: This Month's Top Stories Ryan Morris disputes Borat image of Kazakhstan 20 Nov PCOL announces Peace Corps News Feed 8 Dec Michael O'Hanlon writes: Civil War in Iraq? 4 Dec Dayton Daily News Editor Jeff Bruce retires 3 Dec John Sherman writes libretto for opera "Biafra" 30 Nov Carol Bellamy writes: The Hidden Cost of AIDS 30 Nov Gaddi Vasquez in Egypt with World Food Programme 29 Nov Bill Moyers writes: Message To West Point 29 Nov Alejandro Toledo appointed Stanford Fellow 29 Nov PC to start five new Master's International Programs 27 Nov Garamendi hopes to reshape role as lieutenant governor 26 Nov Parents plant seeds of caring for Carrie Jane Dulin 25 Nov Beth Duff-Brown returns to Congo Kinshasa 25 Nov Forbes gives Direct Relief International perfect score 23 Nov Margaret Krome writes: Parents provide a lesson 22 Nov PC IG investing in case management system 21 Nov Amy Taylor producing a CD called "NamibiAlive 20 Nov Chris Matthews interviews Seymour Hersh on Iran 20 Nov Joe Acaba speaks to Tech students 20 Nov Jeffrey Stanaway teaches life skills to at-risk teens 19 Nov Sam Farr's spinach fest 18 Nov Dodd Introduces Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act 16 Nov

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Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan On his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future.

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November 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories Michael O'Hanlon writes: The New Congress and Iraq 9 Nov Amanda Host named new PC Press Director 12 Nov Shays will reach across the aisle for answers in Iraq 8 Nov Petri loses chance to become committee chairman 8 Nov Doyle gets a mandate to improve education 8 Nov Eunice Shriver spends election night with Schwarzenegger 8 Nov Donna Shalala writes: Eliminating gender bias in universities 7 Nov Robert Paul upheld peace amid Afghan war 6 Nov Carol Bellamy receives humanitarian award 6 Nov Joseph Opala studies Black Seminoles 6 Nov David C. Liner named PC Chief of Staff 3 Nov PCV Matthew Costa remembered 2 Nov Ethiopian-American community rallied for Garamendi 2 Nov Christopher Poulos named Teacher of the Year 1 Nov Peace Corps Writers and the Lost Generation 1 Nov James Rupert writes: A deadly attack in Pakistan 31 Oct Hill meets secretly with North Korea to restart talks 31 Oct Jimmy Carter remembers mother in Peace Corps 30 Oct Leigh Emery travels world for science 27 Oct IFAW breaks ground for new headquarters 25 Oct RPCVs Podcast Around the Globe 23 Oct

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

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