Peru: Native potatoes from Cusco, renowned for their nutritional value and colors, will be featured at the Expo Agraria 2026 fair in Lima

Some 4,000 varieties of native potatoes grown in the highlands of Cusco, as well as organic products derived from this tuber, will be available to buyers at Expoferia 2026. This event, organized by the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), will take place from June 25 to 28.

Hernán Hacco, a producer from the Pampacorral peasant community in the Cusco province of Calca, commented on the program ’Andina al Día’ on the Andina Online channel that, in addition to traditional native potatoes, he has launched a line of snacks, managing to add value to the crop.  

“We are family farmers, but I’m also looking for ways to work together with the community,” Hacco explained. This collaborative approach aims to finance the construction of a processing plant that will increase the final value of the product and promote fair trade.

Thanks to the support of Midagri, Hacco had the opportunity to receive training both abroad and at universities in Lima. "We know how to cultivate, but farmers need training in marketing and processing," he emphasized.

Among the innovative products that have emerged from this effort is Sumac Chips, an organically produced snack that is positioning itself as an attractive alternative in the market.

In their highlands, located 4,800 meters above sea level, Hacco and his community cultivate around 450 varieties of native potatoes. However, he lamented that in cities like Lima, only five predominant varieties are commercially available. 

Fortunately, he noted that this situation is changing thanks to the growing interest of chefs and the impetus given by the Ministry of Agriculture (Midagri) to highlight the product’s richness. He also emphasized that the colors of native potatoes are not only visually appealing but are directly related to their nutritional and antioxidant properties; the more intense the colors, the greater their benefits.

However, Hacco emphasized that preserving these varieties requires a significant effort. Each type of potato needs specific climate and soil conditions, which makes its production risky when these factors change.

The Expoferia, which this year will be held again at the headquarters of the National Agrarian University La Molina in Lima, continues the traditional Agricultural Fair that this institution organizes annually to support small producers and promote native products such as native potatoes.