Our Mission

At Mikuna, our goal is to provide you with the world’s purest, nutrient-dense, plant-based foods
while maintaining the highest consumer transparency, environmental protection, and
community stewardship.

FROM THE PLANET, FOR THE PEOPLE

mi • ku • na, The ancient Kichwa concept of
nourishing the body through food.

A Superior Source of Plant Protein

Chocho (pronounced ‘cho-cho’) is an ancient lupin that’s been cultivated by Indigenous farmers for thousands of years. It grows exclusively in the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 11,000-14,000 feet. Chocho is extremely nutrient-dense and packed with protein, fiber, iron, and calcium.

The coolest part? Chocho creates a cycle of regeneration. It thrives on rain water alone, nourishes the body, and pulls nitrogen deep into the soil as it grows, making the soil healthier and more fertile for future crops.

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Single-source

Farm to Scoop

Cultivated between 11,000 and 14,000 feet in the Andes Mountains by a network of indigenous
farmers, and finely ground in small batches.

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Sourcing

From Ecuador's Rich Soil to
Your Doorstep

We are a vertically integrated company with the vision of leading the plant-based industry
through the transition to regenerative agriculture while supporting small scale farmers in the
Andes.

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Meet Ricky, our founder.

Mikuna was founded by fifth-generation Ecuadorian farmer and former professional athlete, Ricky Echanique.

While living in Santa Barbara, Ricky faced health and digestion issues that sent him on a new path: to find a better form of plant-based nutrition. This journey led him back home to Ecuador and to Chocho, the "Andean super protein."

This powerful lupin has been harvested for thousands of years by Andean farmers yet remains relatively unknown because it grows so remotely. Given his deep roots within the Ecuadorian agricultural community, Ricky felt confident that he could share Chocho with the world. As he met with local farmers, he was moved by their kindness, hospitality and work ethic. Supporting and working alongside Chocho farmers quickly became a key part of his mission.

MIKUNA is proud to empower our farmers with education, fair trade and programs to help take their income from cents to dollars—because we believe our local impact matters as much as our global one.

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Let’s do food better. Together.

We hear the word “sustainable” a lot, and while we appreciate it, to “sustain” means “to keep things as they are.”
We believe that what the world needs now is to get better—not stay the same. That’s why regenerative practices
are at the heart of everything we do. From land use to resource consumption to waste management, we strive for
our impact to be a positive one.