Q&A with José Hernández, founder of SumaPaz Foods
In 2018, José Hernández, the founder of gourmet exporter SumaPaz Foods, discovered the secrets of Colombia’s sesame in the hills of Montes de María in the Caribbean region. In the municipality of Córdoba Tetón, SumaPaz began working with families involved in sesame for generations. In 2023, USAID’s Land for Prosperity Activity facilitated a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that includes SumaPaz, government agencies, and over 600 families from the region.
The PPP is valued at nearly USD $1.8 million and its objective is to increase production and processing of artisanal sesame, promote organic certification, and establish sustainable market channels, especially in high value markets like Europe and the USA.
This year, the producers obtained organic certification, which resulted in the export of 10 containers of high-quality sesame to buyers in the European market. Through this model, SumaPaz can pay prices producer higher prices. In this interview, Hérnandez talks about the impact of the PPP.
Why is the future of organic sesame so bright?
In Colombia we have special water and biodiversity conditions, and we want to preserve this wealth. We also have communities with a lot of needs, and this natural wealth can improve their quality of life. We believe that the best way to protect our ecosystems is to produce food organically.
What did you find in the Córdoba Tetón municipality, in the Bolívar department?
Six years ago we visited this region and the community leaders for the first time, and they told us that during the armed conflict sesame was the food they survived on. When the armed groups arrived, the first thing they ate was the cows and the chickens. So then the communities started to produce milk, butter, and everything else just from sesame. They invited us into their homes with a huge heart and gave us sesame milk, a delicious product that can compete with any vegetable milk in the market.
Why is the sesame of this region special?
Colombia has different ecosystems and microclimates that give food different nuances and flavors. For example, our sesame is very well liked in Germany, where they want a sweeter and less astringent sesame for baked goods. It also works very well to make oil. The chapter of Colombian coffee has already been written, but right now we are writing the chapter on Colombian sesame.
What role is the Public-Private Partnership playing to improve the sesame value chain?
The partnership solved some social problems among these producer associations. For example, there were disagreements between the Sesame Federation and the La Fe Association. But with USAID’s support, they understood that it was better not to fight between them but rather work together. The social fabric of these communities is broken after all the violence, and it is only now starting to be repaired. USAID has a structure to work with these communities and to build trust among them.
Why is USAID’s support important?
Having USAID support is important for the people’s mentality and to position our product. Most importantly, having USAID as a partner opens doors with the Colombian government to institutional entities that can really help, like SENA and Agrosavia.
How do you see the market for organic sesame in the future?
We can grow. The European market is growing and we also want to look to the USA. According to our analysis, we have the capacity to export at least 2,000 metric tons per year right now. This year, we could export 350 tons, or 18% of our annual capacity. And if one day we manage to produce and export 2,000 tons, by then the demand would have probably grown even more.
How does the PPP improve the provision of agricultural services in an isolated municipality like Córdoba Tetón in Bolívar?
We received a lot of help from USAID. Integra was formed, which is a group of young agricultural engineers and agronomists with experience in this region, and they helped us with the organic certification process. As a company, Sumapaz covered all costs and also paid for the farms that are under our name. And since we are based in Bogotá, it helps to have Integra located in the same municipality.
Looking to the future, how do you plan to increase the capacity of the producers?
Our focus is on working towards sustainability, but that sustainability is only possible if there is an entire value chain working properly. Our hope is that in 10 years we can give the business back to the communities. We would be completely satisfied if we could see them being independent, not just as farmers but as business owners. That is real change. They would be autonomous and run their own businesses, carry out all logistics processes, and maintain the relationships with the buyers. They are amazing farmers, but they haven’t had the opportunity, and now it is our responsibility to give them that opportunity.
Cross posted from USAID Exposure