Dear friends,

Let me give you some special information.

I think you won't find what follows anywhere else.

INTRODUCTION

Native crops in Perú are both nutritional and pharmaceutical ( they serve as food as well as medicine ). They are used to prevent illnesses and to give people higher immunological levels. This basic concept will be present in the form we introduce each and all of our native products.

We have native aromatic plants that allow us to fix our food without using fats. This brings forth the natural flavours and tastes of our food. This happens, for example, with our PACHAMANCA.

A fundamental characteristic of Perú are its ecological levels or floors that define a wide variety of micro climates. This provides in its turn a great diversity of natural resources, be them plants or animals. As a result of this geographical distribution we have been blessed with the existing combination of nutritional and pharmaceutical values we locally know. Without exaggeration, these values are amongst the highest on the planet. This implies that the gastronomy we are developing in Perú can be proud of itself beyond good taste and looks. Besides that, its special value lies in its nutritional significance to enhance ones health if properly administered.

Man, in times of the Tahuantinsuyo ( the Incan empire ), with an extraordinary systemic vision, transformed all the elements of his surrounding nature ( or pacha in quichua, our most important native language). They transformed surfaces, atmosphere, landscapes, water, plants and animals, handling them to make them useful for their every day life. Many spatial forms, artifacts and goods were created : cities, roads, irrigation canals, fortresses, agricultural platforms down the sides of the mountains. Everything was named and classified, organizing space in a very particular way.

These people, the hatunruna, created various types of agriculture in accordance with altitudes and special geographical characteristics of each place of which they had vast knowledge. They had agricultural systems for valleys, oasis, plains, deserts, moderate slopes, very scarce rain or foggy areas, high mountains, tropical high jungle and tropical low jungle. Handling microclimates in different altitudes each ayllu ( clans ) had land at various levels to complete their diets.

ANDEAN CROPS

Maca is one of the most important Andean crops. It is a root that grows at about 3,500 meters above sea level, rich in nutrients : proteins, minerals and vitamins. Maca is natureÂs answer to Viagra Â. It helps muscles, bones and teeth grow, strengthening your blood as well as revitalizing your body.

Dr. Gloria Chacon de Popovici, who rediscovered this pre Columbian Andean crop, gives conferences in Lima at any needed time. These conferences include references to geography, seasons, gastronomy, anthropology, archeology, history and nutritional values related to Maca. To complement these, information trips can...