Steve Sando loves beans and we love Steve Sando’s beans. In particular we love the direct trade, heirloom beans Rancho Gordo buy directly from Mexican farmers through the Rancho Gordo – Xoxoco project. Through this project Rancho Gordo, Steve’s company, helps small farmers in Mexico continue to grow their indigenous crops, despite international trade policies that – as Steve points out – seem to discourage genetic diversity and local food traditions.

These beans represent the best of everything we at La Boca Loca love, and we are doing what we can to get them into New Zealand so we can share them with you. Until then we are proud to use other direct trade heirloom products from this projects at La Boca Loca including salt and Mexican oregano.

In a world where traditional and heirloom crops are under threat, Rancho Gordo believes that creating a market for heirloom beans are the most effective way to save them. We are glad to be part of the movement to create that market!