Golden grain goes to the US

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Coopain Cabana, an agricultural cooperative in the south of Peru, struck a major deal: the American Speciality Commodities, supplier of world-famous brands as Kellogg's and Nestlé, buys quinua from farmers from the Peruvian Cabana district. The first two containers with 40 tons organic quinua - also known as 'golden grain' - are on its way from Peru to the US.

Speciality Commodities manufactures high-quality ingredients to worldwide snack food, health food, bakery and pet food companies. Quinua is a gluten-free pseudo-grain full of proteins, vitamins and minerals. As a highly healthy ingredient it is often used in products as muesli, bread, cereals and porridge.

Possibly Coopain Cabana's success will go beyond exporting to the US: France also showed an interest in the organic quinua. Altiplans, a Paris-based producer of organic foods, placed a trial order with Coopain. A sample of 200 kilos is expected in Paris shortly. At the end of January, a delegation of Altiplans will travel to Peru to visit Coopain and its facilities. Both parties hope to make a good agreement during the visit.

The Peruvian cooperative, Cooperativa Agroindustrial Cabana for full, focusses on the collecting, selling and processing of organic quinua from farmers from the southwest of Peru. Since 2011, Agriterra has supported the agricultural cooperative with its marketing and promotion activities. Thanks to Agriterra's financial support, Coopain has been able to take part in leading international trade fairs as the Expo Alimentaria in Lima (Peru) and the Anuga in Cologne. And with success, because the first contacts with those new customers have been made there.