Our Quinoa

 Quinoa Factoids

HEALTHY
Considered a whole grain
Complete protein
A good source of:
Essential amino acids
Dietary fiber
Iron
Calcium
Magnesium
Great for celiacs, diabetics, dieters!
Due to its balanced, natural source of nutrients it can save you money!
NASA has plans to use quinoa on long-term missions into outer space

SAFE
Organically grown
Pesticide-free
Non-GMO
Pre-washed
Wheat- and gluten-free
Easy to digest
Long shelf life (2 to 3 years)

FAST AND EASY
Rinse, Boil, Spice
If you can cook rice, you can cook quinoa!
Yes, you can cook it in a rice cooker!
Ready in 15 minutes, it’s the fastest cooking grain

HELPS REDUCE POVERTY
Fair Trade Certified™ when possible, but always fairly traded
More income for small farms in the Andes
Helps children of family farms receive a better education

 Royal Quinoa®

Royal Quinoa® (“Quinua Real” in Spanish) is only native to the “intersalar region” of Bolivia, South America.

This majestic region sits between the Andes and the salt flat known as Salar de Uyuni. This mystical flat boasts a unique combination of sun and 12,000 feet of altitude that supplies this demanding plant with the vitamins and minerals it needs to flourish.

The rich mineral soil and arid conditions of this region produce a seed that is 1/3 larger than those produced in other regions of the world. Royal Quinoa, often referred to as the “King of all Quinoas,” is famous for its mild buttery taste, high protein content, and large grain size.

“Royal Quinoa” is the trademark of our quinoa supplier, Andean Naturals. This brand belongs to the farmers in the intersalar region who follow a set of guidelines.

Resources

Learn more about our partner:
http://www.andeannaturals.com/AN/Welcome.html 

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 Bolivia

We are committed to protecting the environment of one of the world’s most ecologically diverse countries.

In the southwestern part of Bolivia is the largest salt flat in the world. The Uyuni Salt Flat, once a prehistoric lake, covers an area of 4,000 square miles at an altitude of about 12,000 feet. Between this majestic salt flat and the Andean ranges lie the multicolored fields of Royal Quinoa®. Only here does the right combination of sun, soil, and altitude exist to supply this demanding plant with the right vitamins and minerals it needs to flourish.

More:
Please visit our youtube video for an amazing journey to where our quinoa comes from.

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 Fair Trade Certified™

All of our Royal Quinoa® and Royal Quinoa-based products are strictly organic and when possible Fair Trade Certified™. “Fair Trade Certified™ quinoa directly supports a better life for our farming families through fair prices, community development, and environmental stewardship. Our farmers are able to market their own harvests through direct, long-term contracts with international buyers, learning how to manage their businesses and compete in the global marketplace. Receiving a fair price for their harvest allows them to invest in their families’ health care and education, reinvest in quality, and protect the environment. This empowerment model lifts farming families from poverty through trade, not aid, creating a more equitable and sustainable model of international trade that benefits producers, consumers, industry, and the Earth. The Fair Trade Certified™ label is backed by TransFair USA, the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products for the U.S. market.”

Our goal is to keep our operations efficient in order to supply more profit to the Andean farmers that provide us with our products. This allows these farmers not only to increase production, but also to improve the lives of their families and communities. There are times when the supply for Fair Trade Certified™ quinoa is not available due to shortages, but La Yapa is committed to always paying fair trade prices for all of the quinoa it purchases.

Resources
http://www.transfairusa.org/ 

More:
http://www.youtube.com/fairtradecertified#p/a/A4C47DA04B171E8F/0/NZpUwCfINh8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI3HSONrybk 

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 Organic

One of the most miraculous superfoods ever entering your kitchen as an organic and fairly traded product

We strongly believe that organic foods are essential to our health, the health of our children, and the health of the planet. We are committed to providing you with only truly organic products as an extension of our company‘s philosophy to support the environmental, social, and economic development of Bolivia and the world.

Our products are certified by: CCOF - California Certified Organic Farmers.

We consider a food to be truly organic when:

It is NOT genetically modified
It and the earth it grows on is free of:

• synthetic fertilizers,
• chemical engineering
• herbicides and pesticides
• synthetic fertilizers
• sewage sludge

It has not been in contact with any of the chemical products mentioned above at any point in its production chain

Our Royal Quinoa® raw grain and the Royal Quinoa in our quinoa-based products is sourced from family farms who are committed to organic farming. Due to our dedication to Fair Trade practices, we are able to ensure that these small family farms can afford to continue using traditional organic and environmental-friendly agricultural methods, as their forefathers have done for hundreds of years.

Once our Royal Quinoa has been harvested and threshed, it is taken from the field to a cleaning and packing facility in La Paz, Bolivia, owned and managed by out supplier, Andean Naturals. There, the quinoa is rubbed to remove the bitter saponin coating (a natural protection against birds, rodents, and insects) and is then washed. After drying, the quinoa passes through a line of de-stoners, magnets, and color sorters to assure purity. It is then tested, packaged, and shipped. The cleaning and packaging facility has a strict quality assurance program to meet HACCP standards and is fully certified by USDA NOP.

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 Health Benefits

Quinoa is a power-packed grain that contains an exceptional balance of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals

Quinoa is the gluten-free “grain” that once fueled the Inca empire. The Incas recognized that Quinoa improved their health and stamina and regarded it as a sacred food. Today, nutritionists consider it one of the best “superfood” in the world.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is generally referred to as a grain, but is, in fact, the seed of a plant that is a relative of leafy green vegetables such as beets, chard, and spinach. Like its relatives, quinoa is a good source of dietary fiber. It is rich in essential nutrients, such as magnesium, manganese, iron, tryptophan, copper, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and phosphorous. Quinoa is considered a complete-protein food because it contains all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa is also gluten-free.

Quinoa is not only nutritious, it is delicious. Cooked quinoa is mild and buttery, and slightly crunchy. The most common quinoa seed is golden in color, but there are other varieties in colors such as red, black, pink, orange, and purple. The darker-colored seeds have a more crunchy and earthy texture when cooked, as well as more fiber.

Quinoa’s nutritional components
Quinoa’s nutritional components are known to be good for a variety of ailments:

Magnesium	Reduction of migraines and heart failure
Amino acid lysine	Essential for tissue growth and repair
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)	Necessary for proper energy production within cells
Manganese and Copper	Provide antioxidant protection
Whole Grain Fiber	Protective against certain cancers, childhood asthma, and gallstones

Resources
For more nutritional information on quinoa and more please visit
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=142 

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