TOPARA ORGANICA Topara Organica, owned by the Bederski family, has made it their mission to cultivate and produce products that represent the rich culinary traditions of Peru while restoring the land and strengthening their local community. Topara organically cultivates and processes many indigenous crops, such as maiz morado (purple corn), lucuma, ajis (chile peppers), huacatay (black mint), yuca and sweet potato. Topara is a leader in their community and throughout Peru in organic cultivation. To this day they have the only certified organic nursery in the country. They work closely with neighboring farms to train them in organic agriculture. When the company purchases products from neighboring farmers, they oversee all aspects of the cultivation from seedling to harvest. When they purchase from farmers or farmer associations in other regions (such as the highland grains and roots), Topara ensures that all organic certifications are in order and often send workers for cultural and work exchanges. The Bederski family has made a huge positive impact on their local community, both on a personal level and through their farm. For example, when a devastating earthquake leveled the town of Chincha, the family donated money and supplies, and raised more money internationally, to help rebuild the homes of their workers.
PRODUCTS Z贸calo Aji Pastes & Pods Z贸calo Purple Corn Flour Aji, or chile peppers, are native to Peru, and the country boasts many distinct indigenous varieties that are used as a base for most of Peruvian traditional cooking. The aji paste is made from fresh aji, pureed and pasteurized. Topara, the principle producer of organic aji in Peru, cultivates the native Amarillo, Limo, and Panca and produces both paste and pod format. They are currently working on a project to introduce more native ajis, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.
Purple corn, once a staple of the Incan empire, is botanically the same species as regular table corn but has a deep purple color and has long been used by people of the Peruvian Andes to color beverages and food. The dark purple color is due to natural pigments known as anthocyanins, which are rich in antioxiof r o dants. Purple corn flour is a nd e V colorful and naturally glutenfree product to bake with.
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TOPARA ORGANICA Topara Organica, owned by the Bederski family, has made it their mission to cultivate and produce products that represent the rich culinary traditions of Peru while restoring the land and strengthening their local community. Topara organically cultivates and processes many indigenous crops, such as maiz morado (purple corn), lucuma, ajis (chile peppers), huacatay (black mint), yuca and sweet potato. Topara is a leader in their community and throughout Peru in organic cultivation. To this day they have the only certified organic nursery in the country. They work closely with neighboring farms to train them in organic agriculture. When the company purchases products from neighboring farmers, they oversee all aspects of the cultivation from seedling to harvest. When they purchase from farmers or farmer associations in other regions (such as the highland grains and roots), Topara ensures that all organic certifications are in order and often send workers for cultural and work exchanges. The Bederski family has made a huge positive impact on their local community, both on a personal level and through their farm. For example, when a devastating earthquake leveled the town of Chincha, the family donated money and supplies, and raised more money internationally, to help rebuild the homes of their workers.
PRODUCTS Z贸calo Aji Pastes & Pods Z贸calo Purple Corn Flour Aji, or chile peppers, are native to Peru, and the country boasts many distinct indigenous varieties that are used as a base for most of Peruvian traditional cooking. The aji paste is made from fresh aji, pureed and pasteurized. Topara, the principle producer of organic aji in Peru, cultivates the native Amarillo, Limo, and Panca and produces both paste and pod format. They are currently working on a project to introduce more native ajis, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.
Purple corn, once a staple of the Incan empire, is botanically the same species as regular table corn but has a deep purple color and has long been used by people of the Peruvian Andes to color beverages and food. The dark purple color is due to natural pigments known as anthocyanins, which are rich in antioxiof r o dants. Purple corn flour is a nd e V colorful and naturally glutenfree product to bake with.
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AGROIND. HUAYALLACAN This small company was founded in 2009 by two young entrepreneurs with a big vision – to promote economic development in the villages from where their family comes. In the Huanuco region of Peru, most people cultivate and live off of the potato. But the market price for potatoes is quite low and instable, and thus it is difficult for villagers to move beyond subsistence conditions. Violeta began by selling her mother’s artisanal sauco (her mother is in the picture to the left), or elderberry marmalade in Lima while getting a higher education. Roger’s education landed him a job with a local non-profit working with villagers to produce elderberry wine. The two met and decided to take their work many steps further. By introducing both sauco and aquaymanto (goldenberry), both native species, to their communities, and training the farmers in organic cultivation methods, they have been able to increase the income to these families significantly. They purchase the resulting crops at fair prices and produce fruit spreads and other products for the national gourmet markets. The company works in association with two non-profits, Aprovif and Apacarma, and farmers in the communities of Huayllacán and Cancejos. They offer technical support to their farmers, organic certification, and a secure market. In addition, the reintroduction of these crops is helping to reverse deforestation in their communities.
PRODUCTS Zócalo Whole Fruit Spreads
These two whole fruit spreads are organically produced from fruit that is native to the foothills of the Peruvian Andes.
Elderberry Fruit Spread is a deep rich sauce with the delectable crunch of whole “sauco” or elderberries. It is a unique spread for toast or paired with cheese and is also great as a cooking sauce. Goldenberry Fruit Spread has the unique sweet and sour tang of whole and ground aguaymanto, or goldenberries. It pairs well with cheese, meats, and pastries
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AGROIND. HUAYALLACAN This small company was founded in 2009 by two young entrepreneurs with a big vision – to promote economic development in the villages from where their family comes. In the Huanuco region of Peru, most people cultivate and live off of the potato. But the market price for potatoes is quite low and instable, and thus it is difficult for villagers to move beyond subsistence conditions. Violeta began by selling her mother’s artisanal sauco (her mother is in the picture to the left), or elderberry marmalade in Lima while getting a higher education. Roger’s education landed him a job with a local non-profit working with villagers to produce elderberry wine. The two met and decided to take their work many steps further. By introducing both sauco and aquaymanto (goldenberry), both native species, to their communities, and training the farmers in organic cultivation methods, they have been able to increase the income to these families significantly. They purchase the resulting crops at fair prices and produce fruit spreads and other products for the national gourmet markets. The company works in association with two non-profits, Aprovif and Apacarma, and farmers in the communities of Huayllacán and Cancejos. They offer technical support to their farmers, organic certification, and a secure market. In addition, the reintroduction of these crops is helping to reverse deforestation in their communities.
PRODUCTS Zócalo Whole Fruit Spreads
These two whole fruit spreads are organically produced from fruit that is native to the foothills of the Peruvian Andes.
Elderberry Fruit Spread is a deep rich sauce with the delectable crunch of whole “sauco” or elderberries. It is a unique spread for toast or paired with cheese and is also great as a cooking sauce. Goldenberry Fruit Spread has the unique sweet and sour tang of whole and ground aguaymanto, or goldenberries. It pairs well with cheese, meats, and pastries
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