Episode 176: Runa

What has the same amount of caffeine as coffee with twice the antioxidants of green tea? Guayusa! This week on The Farm Report, Erin Fairbanks is joined in the studio by Dan MacCombie and Tyler Gage, co-founders and co-CEOs of Runa. Runa is a company that makes guayusa-based beverages by working with Ecuadorian farmers, providing a fair price and sustainable business for indigenous people. Tune into this episode to learn about the life cycle of the plant, and how its natural rhythms provide a steady harvest for farmers. How do Dan and Tyler ensure equity for their workers? Find out the importance of preserving traditions by providing a market for native people. Learn why Runa takes certain certifications so seriously, and how applying for these labels changes perspective on production. Thanks to our sponsor, Hearst Ranch. Thanks to EULA for today’s music. “If we can’t find markets for native goods, there’s really no future for the Amazon rainforest or indigenous cultures.” [4:00] — Tyler Gage on The Farm Report “We want this to be something that Amazonian people can add to their incomes… it’s a piece of a bigger pie.” [20:45] — Dan MacCombie on The Farm Report See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.