Quinoa Production in Central North Dakota

View the project final report

• 2015 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: Quinoa

Practices

• Farm Business Management: marketing management
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

The demand for gluten free food has increased the price of quinoa, thus creating a potential for small scale North Dakota farmers to totally integrate the production and marketing of quinoa. Production challenges have hindered the production of quinoa in North Dakota. Challenges include: developing producer friendly planting methods, harvesting and processing systems, refining the use of cover/companion crops for weed control, crop rotation, and organic fertilization. The goal is to produce a large enough crop to evaluate quinoa’s economic viability and to successfully direct market quinoa. This proof of concept project will enable each operation to become a sustainable small scale farming operation in an environment where they are unable to compete with large scale conventional grains.  

1. Verify Viable North Dakota varieties of quinoa (cherry vanilla and brightest brilliant rainbow).
2. Develop producer-friendly planting, harvesting, and marketing processes.
3. Increase genetic and bio-diversity of cropping systems.
4. Educate the public about the benefits of locally grown quinoa through farm tours, conference presentations, kitchen-based classes, and printed materials.