Homemade jam is bringing integral mission to Quechua communities of Cusco, it was reported in early August.
For the past four years, ATEK, an organisation that seeks to strengthen local churches through the use of Quechua Scriptures, has provided training in needy communities of Paruro province.
During this time, it was found that the community in Huancahuanca was selling significant quantities of sauco (a type of berry) at unjustly low prices to a jam factory in Cusco. It was also discovered that, in Rocoto, aguaymanto (cape gooseberry) grew wild in large quantities. It was an amazing opportunity to seek justice, get the church involved in the community and improve people’s income.
The project entails helping 30 families in Huancahuanca to plant more sauco trees and 30 families in Rocoto to grow aguaymanto organically and efficiently (increasing production up to sevenfold), as well as adding value through jam-making.
The jam company only buys the main crop of sauco from January to February, so local jam production uses the fruit that matures in December and March. Families are already producing jams on a small scale for home use and for sale.
