“The Asociación Nacional de Productores de quinoa (ANAPQUI) was formed in 1983 by small farmers set to sell and market their quinoa collectively and improve the living standard of all quinoa producers in the Bolivian Highlands. The cooperative’s producers live mainly around Potosi, Oruro and La Paz, in high altitude areas where quinoa is cultivated. The group promotes traditional techniques and technologies throughout production to empower farmers to grow high-quality quinoa for international markets while sustaining the environment. They work to reverse the negative ecological impacts of production by developing and implementing programs to prevent soil erosion, promote soil productivity and recuperate natural vegetation.

The cooperative is made up of nine regional associations with over 1,100 members from primarily two indigenous ethnicities – Aymara and Quechua –and indirectly employs thousands more in the community. They produce three main varieties of quinoa –Blanca Real, Rosada and Pisankalla. Together, farmers produce over 3,640 metric tons of quinoa annually.”

**All images from Creative Commons. Specific Authors Quinoa images: Nerissa Ring, Daniel Lobo, Amy Stephenson.