I Love Produce ventures into the Peruvian rainforest to survey ginger crop

Organic importer I Love Produce recently met with its supplier of organic Peruvian ginger, Rainforest Organic, to discuss the season.

The owner of Rainforest Organic, identified as Mr. Guillermo, and his nephew and Commercial Manager Edwin Medrano led a tour of their fields and facilities, according to a news release.

“The Asháninka rainforest area is one of the most remote places I have ever traveled,” Gordon Liao, new partner for I Love Produce, said in the release. “We learned how the good people at Rainforest Organic put a good deal of love and care into the growing and packing of their ginger, which shows in the quality of their production.”

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The ginger supply from Peru is limited this year because prices were poor last season and less ginger was planted for 2023, the release said. 

“Because our partner Rainforest [Organic] introduced ginger to Peru, they are well established,” Jim Provost, I Love Produce president, said in the release. “We planned together for our program in 2023, and our supply is secure for the duration of the season.”

All major ginger producing countries — including China, Brazil and Peru — grew less ginger for 2023 than in previous years, according to the release. The supply and market will be tight until new crop Chinese ginger comes back into the market in 2024, and I Love Produce is positioned to supply their customers during this challenging supply year, the release said.