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<\/p>\nQuinoa is getting more and more popular as this pseudocereal is touted for its health benefits over commonly consumed grains like wheat and oats. But, why is quinoa so expensive compared to these other foods? This so-called superfood is more expensive than most grains and seeds that are comparable.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s examine quinoa in-depth and see if we can get to the bottom of this!<\/p>\n
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Quinoa starting getting popular about 10 years ago and has continued to reach more consumers and provide a healthier replacement for cheaper grains and cereals that aren\u2019t as nutritious.<\/p>\n
Prices peaked in 2014 when the demand was well above the supply with a worldwide average price of $14.83 per lb of quinoa<\/a>. As of 2019, as more growers have switched to growing quinoa, the price has been able to drop to $7.88 per lb, which is still far beyond the typical grains and cereals that many people opt to eat.<\/p>\n Compare that outrageous number to the lowly $0.10 per lb as the cost of US-produced wheat<\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n Quinoa is still not as popular as whole-grains, like oats and wheat. But, it is rising dramatically in popularity<\/a> as more and more health-conscious people turn to the gluten-free grain-alternative.<\/p>\n The majority of the quinoa consumed in America is imported from South American countries, where it has been growing for a long time. It has been a staple in those local diets but is being exported to the US more often nowadays.<\/p>\n This exponential growth in popularity along with the lack of US-based growers makes the cost much more significant than wheat, barley, oats, and other common grains found in fields across the nation.<\/p>\nPopularity Of Quinoa<\/h2>\n
Origins Of Quinoa<\/h2>\n
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