Quinoa is a delicious and incredibly nutrient-dense alternative to rice with more fiber and protein per serving while also delivering a complete plant-based protein source, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot make on their own. Ancient Harvest was also the very first brand to introduce the ancient grain quinoa to U.S. consumers back in 1983 and remains the brand leader today sourcing only the finest quality quinoa from across the globe. While most quinoa comes from South America, this quinoa is grown and harvested in the high plains and unique climate of the Colorado Rocky Mountains right here in the USA. Quinoa that grows at high elevation tends to be a more resilient crop that leads to larger, more consistently shaped quinoa seeds that have a deliciously subtle nutty flavor that consumers tend to prefer over quinoa grown elsewhere. Our USA grown quinoa is also a more sustainable option than South American grown quinoa for 2 reasons. First, being locally grown and sold we eliminate the need to transport your quinoa over great distances. Second, we have developed a unique rinsing process when processing our USA grown quinoa that reduces water usage by 1 gallon per pound of quinoa vs. similar processes used on South American quinoa. Ancient Harvest USA Grown quinoa is Certified Non-GMO Project Verified and pre-washed, so you can pour right from the bag into your pot without concern for pinkish coloring that you see with other quinoa brands.