Update 2016: The supply of Peruvian Maca for 2015-2016 seems to have stabilized for the moment and prices are starting to come back down. We've already been able to lower our prices to customers once and expect to be able to do so again by summer 2016. That said, there is now quite a bit of subpar Chineses grown Maca on the world market. It doesn't work nearly as well as Peruvian Maca and may actually be dangerous. Here is why to always insist on Peruvian grown Maca.
In early July 2014 as we prepared to purchase some freshly harvested Maca from our farming co-operative in Peru we were greeted with some troubling news. Our supplier told us that the price of Maca was rising quickly due to unprecedented demand from Asian and, in particular, Chinese buyers. We quickly became aware of the extent of this new demand when we were quoted prices nearly double the previous market price. At that time we submitted our purchase order at the new prices. Shockingly a message came back to us a few days later that the prices had doubled yet again and would likely continue to rise. Thanks to our deep connections with various Maca suppliers in Peru and the U.S. we discovered that everyone in the Maca trade is experiencing prices 4 and 5 times higher than normal. Here’s part of an email we received from one of our suppliers a couple weeks ago:
Unfortunately maca situation maintains and we don’t have maca back in stock or to be delivered. Currently maca price on farms are still increasing and now they are 100% more than 2 weeks ago
And another:
Prices are going up almost every week due to the high demand from the Chinese
Since our only focus is Organic Peruvian Maca we had to find out what is happening.
We’ve discovered that Chinese nationals are coming into Peru posing as tourists. They approach Maca farmers directly in their fields with suitcases full of cash and offer them 4-8 times market rate for their products. The farmers have been taking the money, even when it means breaking contracts they have had with Peruvian national producers who have supported them for decades. It’s certainly easy to question the ethics of this tactic, but the Chinese are going even further by illegally smuggling whole Maca roots and seeds out of the country. Here’s how one of our contacts in Peru put it a couple of days ago:
Maca is not allowed by our government to be exported as raw material (fresh product without being processed) because it can be used as a seed in other countries, and this is a product considered to be native to Peru and our government tries to maintain it as such. However, the Chinese are taking the product fresh out of our country illegally through our country’s borders with Bolivia and Ecuador. This problem was shown on national TV yesterday. Our government is increasing control, and I hope they manage to be successful and stop the Chinese from doing this
This issue, considered by many as an act of Bio-terrorism, is making international news headlines. To date these are the main articles addressing the situation. (Note that the prices quoted in these articles are already outdated). Notice that major news outlets including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times are now also reporting on this situation.
In addition AmericaTV released an informative video detailing the situation on 17 August 2014. Here’s the link to the Spanish only verision.And here is the video with English subtitles. It's very well done and worth watching for sure.
We’ve been asking ourselves the same question, especially since we know that China is actively growing Maca in the Yunnan region. According to one of our customers and affiliates in China the harvest of Chinese Maca from Yunnan is set to be very large this year. But Chinese consumers prefer Peruvian Maca because of its much higher quality (see our article on why you should insist on Peruvian grown Maca here). They also demand whole roots because they are concerned that Chinese companies will adulterate or cut” Organic Peruvian Maca powder with other types of flours. Beyond that it seems likely that Chinese companies are planning to plant some of the whole roots from Peru in order to try to grow a better quality Maca in Yunnan,
The short term outlook: Fortunately, we are still able to source our Maca from the same great co-op we always use. It’s just at a MUCH higher price. That means our customers saw our first price increase in over 4 years as of September 1st 2014. We simply could not avoid that.
However, since we always buy our Maca in small lots to maximize freshness we continually monitor pricing. Hopefully, as this situation plays out, our costs will come down and we will be able to lower prices again.
The longer term outlook: Most experts we’ve spoken with predict that Maca pricing will stabilize within a few months. We certainly hope that it does. We also hope that the Peruvian government is successful in preventing the export of whole roots from their country as it is indeed a national heritage crop of Peru.
Update as of September 2014: Little has been done to stop the mass export of Maca from Peru, unfortunately. Our suppliers indicate that the current harvest will be totally gone by year's end. The next harvest will not begin until May/June 2015. We are currently purchasing as much as we possibly can and hope to be able to continue to serve our customers with high quality Maca throughout the year.
Update as of October 2014: Not surprisingly we are now receiving offers from Chinese companies to purchase Chinese grown Maca. Just as we suspected, part of the strategy seems to be for the Chinese to take over the global market for Maca. We will NEVER purchase Chinese grown Maca, both because of quality and ethical reasons. If you love Maca make sure always insist on Peruvian grown. Here's an example of one of the offers:
Thank you for reading and sharing this message with anyone who cares about high quality heritage foods. It’s because of people like you that we are in business. We appreciate it very much. We will keep this page updated with new developments.
I shop around a lot for my supplements and health foods, and I have to say you guys at The Maca Team are light years ahead of anyone else selling maca out in the marketplace. Thanks for all you do!
By Jim Price, The Green Marketing Guru
Loving the red maca from themacateam. I can tell the difference from my usual store-bought brands. It really tastes so fresh and sweet compared to others. I really love this product. Thanks for sourcing it for us to enjoy
By Michelle Gebbia
I LOVE Maca Team Maca...this was my first purchase with the Maca Team and I have no need to try any other Maca-producer. The Maca tastes fresh and flavorful, the Kilo bag is a great price, and I feel so much more at ease (Maca is such powerful medicine :) )
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I take 24 products from five to six times a week to increase my well-being and sensual and sexual delights. ;D The Maca Team’s organic maca is one of them—nine grams in my smoothie, Monday to Saturday. The Maca Team is a small business run by a family who cares about its customers, its Peruvian maca growers, and the environment. It's vital to know the source of everything we put in our mouths. Physical and mental health are precious treasures. :D
By Jerry Montero
By Milt Thompson
This product is amazing! I have used other cheaper brands of white maca with fairly good results, but after trying the Maca Team maca, I noticed within two weeks all of my menopausal symptoms had completely vanished. Others described a bad taste and smell, but I have tried the black and the red and find them both to be mild tasting. I use a tablespoon in my daily smoothly
By Joy
Maca first came to us by our vitamin supplier. Then we ordered from the Maca Team. Comparison? Think fire-fly, then think mid-day sun. At 76 and 73 years respectively, that is a big deal; and at comparable cost too. We never have we had such speedy delivery and the packaging is the strongest, most protective we've seen, ever, at all ... anywhere. Further, the Mrs. no longer takes hormone supplements. And Mr. scans the morning want ads for steady P/T work.
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I had been using another brand of maca powder and decided to try The Maca Team's. The difference in freshness is night and day, and better tasting . I'm 6 foot 250 lbs. and take 4 teaspoons every day w/ my protein shake. Great energy boost and just feel great all day. I can tell a difference when I do not take it. best price that I have found {36oz}. I will be buying more as needed.
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I've tried various maca brands over the last 20 years and The Maca Team brand is very special. There is definitely a difference when it comes to the quality and colors of the maca. This red maca does seem to nourish certain parts of my body while the black maca nourishes something else. I know I've been missing the nutrition these maca provide. I'm 75 years old and bodies wear out, but I'm finding I'm regaining a functioning body. How wonderful is this?!?!!!
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I just wanted to thank you for your excellently constructed website. I am a physician and I recently started learning about Maca. I get a very good sense of it, and I expect I will try it out myself and possibly be recommending it to patients in the future. If so, your website will be the first place to send people. Thanks again.
By Adam Holt
Love the Maca team, In an earlier comment I said I was on the fence about where to buy Maca .Not anymore .You shouldn’t be either. The team has answered any questions I’ve had promptly. I feel like I’m dealing with friends, not some company far away out for my money only. The Maca is fresh, prices are good, the people are nice. If you’re on the fence, don’t be, you won’t be sorry.
By Bob
My Maca came in today and it has all the information on it! I must say this is the best tasting Maca I have tried!! Thank you again for a great product!! I will only order from you in future as well!
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We love this product. I own a store and work with clients holistically. We have recommended maca for years however, this is the highest quality product we have ever carried. I am proud to offer it in my store.
By Mellissa Gage, Infinity and Beyond
I am really happy that I chose the Maca Team, today you can find many distributors selling Maca powder, however quality of the powder is impossible to compare. Moreover, the results after 2 weeks I could feel. Before I was taking maca powder and I did not feel any changes. But since I started taking Maca from Maca Team the changes are incredible. So, I did a test.:) I gave the powder to my partner ... and after 2 weeks he was impressed and told me that he has more energy, feeling happy... Thank you The Maca Team!!!!
By Olga
I do want to say that I have done quite a bit of research on different companies that offer Maca and The Maca Team definitely is the most reputable. Thank you again for your kindness and professionalism :)
By T.C.
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