Quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa

Quinoa was an important food source since 4-3000 BC in South America. It looks like a grain but in fact its a relative of sugar beets and  spinach. Leaves of quinoa are widely used  by growers, but they have a limited commercial availability and value. Quinoa is an undemanding and altitude-hardy crop, but does not bring large yields. Average yield is about 700 kg per hectare.  Also, the harvest is uneven so  it takes a lot of effort  to collect it.
Only 68 964 tons were produced worldwide in 2009. Biggest producer is Peru with 39 998 tons (2009). Biggest producer per capita is Bolivia with 2.7 kg in 2009.
World production in 2009 grew 19.5% due to growing demand  for quinoa in USA and high grain prices  in 2008. Nevertheless only  10.1 grams of quinoa were available to a potential consumer in 2009.  Lowest production since 1961 was  15 613 tons in 1968, highest  was the record of 2009.
Quinoa is a very good food, it contains 16-20% of protein of the highest quality, it has twice as much iron as wheat and almost as much phosphorus as sea fish (up to 3 times more than the  best sorts  of rice).

World crop of  quinoa of 2009 could feed 347 654 people at 2000 calories a day, or an entire population of  Bahamas islands.
Quinoa  as of now sells for $2500-3000 a ton. World crop is about $170-175 mln worth.
My main sources are fao.org. usda.gov. cia.gov, alibaba.com


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Production of quinoa by country
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	item	2007		2008		2009
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)	Quinoa	26601		27169		28276
Ecuador	Quinoa	690		690			M
Peru	Quinoa	31824		29867		39998
World + (Total)	Quinoa	59115		57726	A	68964	A

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