Tradicion Peruana is a Peruvian hot sauce company which uses Peru’s principal peppers of aji and rocotto as a base for its hot sauces. The sauces are 100 percent made and bottled in Peru. Not only do we aim to bring these traditional sauces to world markets, but we invest in improving the standard of living of the aji pepper farmers that have grown these peppers for hundreds of years.
Most aji farmers lack almost total access to agricultural technology and training, and use traditional subsistence techniques that have been passed down for generations. Without agricultural technology, it is difficult to break the cycle of subsistence farming and poverty.
Aji farmers suffer the myriad problems associated with poverty and underdevelopment. Malnutrition, lack of education, disease, forced economic migration are all results of extreme poverty that is found in many of Peru’s rural agricultural communities.
The main ingredients of our hot sauces come from one of the poorest agricultural sectors in Peru. We use 15 percent of our profits to invest back into agricultural technology and training for these pepper farmers. We invest in agricultural technology that has proven to bring about transformative positive social impact in Peru’s rural agricultural communities.
The technology and training most effective in rural Peru is based on improved irrigation techniques, installed and taught by local Quechua community members to other Quechua community members. In the rural highlands and mountainous regions of Peru, farmers are almost entirely dependent on rain for their irrigation. Generally they can only rely on 2 or 3 days per month of significant rain to irrigate their crops. However, very low cost “artisanal” water basins and sprinkler systems can be installed to serve communities of family farms. With the water basins and connected sprinkler system, families can irrigate their crops 2 or 3 times per week.
This farming technology on average increases crop yields by 3 to 4 times per year. With these increased crop yields, farmers can break the cycle of subsistance farming and poverty.