2025 Quinoa Harvest festival is moving towns - to be held in Santa Cruz, CA with the support of the Rare Fruit Growers Society of Monterey Bay

Quinoa is potentially a great crop for Panguitch!

Pros for growing in panguitch:

  • Grows at high elevation (originates in altiplano of Andes Mountains)

  • Requires moderately cool temperatures to set seed (most of Utah is too hot!)

  • Tolerates a short growing season

  • Can grow in poor soil

  • Requires less water than most crops, especially alfalfa

  • Has bitter saponin coating (removed before cooking) that deters birds and other animals

Cons:

  • Hard to distinguish from lambsquarter, a related weed prevalent in Panguitch

  • Being a slow starter, weeds can outgrow quinoa until the quinoa is established and hits its strong growth phase after about 4 weeks

2024 Schedule

8:00 am — Hike/Music with llamas in Red Canyon - meet for light breakfast at the Two Sunsets Hotel (50 No. Main St.) and ferry to hiking spot in Casto Canyon. After the short hike, Los Hermanos de Los Andes favor us with a concert with the red rocks and llamas in the background. New this year will be a dance troupe from Latin Dance Heritage (free).

9:00 am — Los Hermanos de Los Andes CONCERT in Red Canyon begins accompanied by Latin Dance Heritage ensemble (free).

Noon - 12:30 pm - “Taste of Quinoa” potluck at the quinoa field, 135 N. 400 E. Try a variety of quinoa dishes! Free, but please bring a quinoa or other dish to share. Those that bring a quinoa dish will be entered into a raffle to win exciting prizes.

12:30 - 1:00 pm — Meet the Quinoa Experts at the quinoa field, 135 N. 400 E. See how quinoa is grown and harvested. Dr. Rick Jellen (international quinoa researcher) and other experts will be on hand for short presentations and answer questions. Llama rides available to small kids (free).

5:30 pm — Peruvian buffet (La Carreta Peruvian Restaurant) begins at the social hall (65 E. Center St.), accompanied by live music (Los Hermanos de Los Andes) and dance performers (Latin Dance Heritage) until around 7:00 pm (ticket required). Please, please, please buy your tickets early so we can plan well. Tickets can be purchased on EventBright ($20 for adults + booking fee, see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/quinoa-harvest-and-andean-festival-4th-annual-tickets-936884545897?aff=oddtdtcreator) or in person at the Panguitch Gem Theater (no fee).

7:30 pm - Free Movie at the GEM THEATER - TBD

Looking to hang with the llamas? Come to the Red Canyon hike, or stop by the quinoa fields, or Rondo and Pegasus will be at the social hall to greet you at the dinner event.

 

Quinoa was considered “the mother of all grains” by the Incans.

Quinoa is unique as it contains the most complete set of essential amino acids of any plant protein (amaranth is a distant second). Thus, quinoa is truly deserving of the SUPER FOOD title.