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Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

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Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#131

Post by inopinatus »

YokoZar wrote: post #6
rosser wrote: post #4

A particular concern with quinoa, given its narrow (native) growing area, and the poverty endemic to that area, is that worldwide demand for the crop has out-priced its growers' and their communities' ability to afford it in order to feed themselves . A select few brands set aside some of each harvest specifically for that purpose (and also put some of their profits back into improving the farms, sending the farmers'…

Why is this a problem? If quinoa sprouted literal diamonds we wouldn't be upset that the farmers were selling them instead of making their own jewelry. Having your crops be too valuable to eat is a good problem to have; these farmers incomes have more than sextupled. That easily lets them sell the crop and buy other food like everyone else.

As my macroeconomics lecturer once put it, "The purpose of exports, is imports!"

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#132

Post by infinite8s »

malandrew wrote: post #124
DigitalSea wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you use Oatmeal in place of rice though? I couldn't picture a healthy curry or stir-fry that used Oatmeal instead of Quinoa in place of rice, could you?

Good question. I've never thought about why there aren't more savory foods out there that use oatmeal. Seems like all the oatmeal-based foods I've seen are sweet.

This looks like an interesting way to have oats in a savory way - http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/miso-oat-porridge-recip...

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#133

Post by zecho »

bayesianhorse wrote: post #53
btown wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most would argue that "effect on their economy" is a means to an end, and that "effect on the well-being of people" is the end itself. In that case, economic analysis can fall short. Friends of mine have personally spoken to rural Andean farmers who can verify that the price rises in quinoa can cause more problems than they solve.

How does that work? Food security should increase rather than decrease. Subsistence farming is a living that can be extremely hard to the point of starvation when anything goes wrong. Sometimes a "more problems" verdict neglects the idea of different qualities of problems. More money usually comes with a higher quantity of problems, for example...

Mo' money, mo' quantity of problems.

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#134

Post by MaysonL »

DigitalSea wrote: post #109
scythe wrote: post #80

Quinoa, famous for protein and fiber content, still contains less protein and fiber than, say, oatmeal. It's okay - hyperventilating paleo bloggers have raised concerns about saponins -- but the whole "superfood" frenzy about quinoa is just a tad off base. It's okay, not bad for you, probably better than white rice or processed food, but most of what quinoa has going for it is simply that it is real and unmodified. I…

Would you use Oatmeal in place of rice though? I couldn't picture a healthy curry or stir-fry that used Oatmeal instead of Quinoa in place of rice, could you?

I've fairly often eaten oatmeal with chili, and curry wouldn't be bad, probably.

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#135

Post by pyre »

vacri wrote: post #121
windsurfer wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still don't understand. If a farmer produces 10 units of quinoa and sell 4 every year, they'll still produce 10 units no matter what the price is. They'll still be able to sell 4 units, and still be able to consume 6. The only difference would be that farmers will make more of a profit selling the 4 units. The only possible explanation would be that the resources (farming equipment, seeds, fertilizer?) required to…

What if you're not a farmer? What if you're a ditch-digger, and now can't afford your staple food?

Simple! Teach yourself to code, and earn 6 figures in an office chair!

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#136

Post by simplexion »

DigitalSea wrote: post #107

Quinoa is the perfect rice substitute. I switched over to Quinoa about 3 years ago instead of rice. Even though it's super expensive (especially in Australia) it has health benefits that far outweigh other suitable grains that can be used as a rice substitute. Steam some vegetables, put them into a bowl with Quinoa, cook a nice massive mushroom and sit the Quinoa on-top and then sprinkle some Himalayan Rock Salt over…

Citation for, "it has health benefits that far outweigh other suitable grains that can be used as a rice substitute." please.

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#137

Post by joeyo »

malandrew wrote: post #124
DigitalSea wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you use Oatmeal in place of rice though? I couldn't picture a healthy curry or stir-fry that used Oatmeal instead of Quinoa in place of rice, could you?

Good question. I've never thought about why there aren't more savory foods out there that use oatmeal. Seems like all the oatmeal-based foods I've seen are sweet.

Oatmeal prepared with soy sauce and green onions is awesome. It's a bit like a savory congee.

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#139

Post by LargeWu »

mikestew wrote: post #51

"Quinoa is a low-calorie, gluten-free, high-protein grain that tastes great ." (emphasis mine) I'm a vegetarian, high-mileage distance runner who has every reason to enjoy quinoa. "Tastes great" is not one of the reasons I eat it. I choke it down as best I can because it's good for me.

Mix 3 c. cooked quinoa with parboiled broccoli, cauliflower, or some other veg in a casserole dish. Combine 1/4 c. pesto, 1/3 c milk or cream, and one egg, mix and pour over the quinoa/veg mixture. Top with chunks of goat cheese. Bake uncovered for 30 min at 350.

A go-to dish for me. Really easy and tasty. Measurements are basically guesses, I usually just eyeball it.

Re: Quinoa should be taking over the world. This is why it isn’t

#140

Post by sgdnogb2n »

dxbydt wrote: post #64
rosser wrote: post #4

A particular concern with quinoa, given its narrow (native) growing area, and the poverty endemic to that area, is that worldwide demand for the crop has out-priced its growers' and their communities' ability to afford it in order to feed themselves . A select few brands set aside some of each harvest specifically for that purpose (and also put some of their profits back into improving the farms, sending the farmers'…

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2005/03/thoroughly_m... "In Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, a village of beleaguered peasants seeks to protect itself from marauding bandits by hiring a squad of samurai. To show their esteem, they offer up precious white rice to the warriors, saving only lowly millet for themselves. "

And iirc, they said they'd get night blindness from eating only millet (presumably from its lack of vitamin A?).
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