Mikuna

Sponsored by Hummingbirds

MIKUNA is redefining plant protein with Chocho, a nutrient-dense superfood grown regeneratively at high altitudes in the Andes. Rooted in Ecuadorian heritage, their products deliver clean, powerful nutrition while supporting regenerative agriculture and empowering local farming communities. They believe in fueling people and protecting the planet, one scoop at a time. Mikuna was founded by fifth-generation Ecuadorian farmer and former professional athlete, Ricky Echanique. On this episode, Ricky is taking us behind the brand.

Inside the episode

• Ricky Echanique’s founder story as a fifth-generation Ecuadorian farmer and former professional athlete

• Why Ricky created a brand to bring Chocho to new markets

• Strategy marketing Chocho in the United States

• Advice for an emerging brand founder marketing an unknown ingredient to most US consumers

Listen here

Learn more

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

After suffering an autoimmune disease that left his typical active self feeling chronically fatigued, Ricky tapped into his native land’s superfood resources to find a better form of plant-based nutrition. This journey led him back home to Ecuador and to chocho, a regenerative, nutrient-dense source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and all nine essential amino acids. Chocho has been sustainably grown by indigenous farmers in the Andean Mountains at an elevation of 11-14K feet for thousands of years and is one of the few whole-food proteins on the market. This ancient lupin is drought-tolerant, thrives on rainwater alone, and fixes nitrogen into the soil, improving the soil’s water retention capacity and making it healthier, improving the yields of future crops. 

 After incorporating chocho into his diet as a superfood protein, Ricky developed the idea forMIKUNA, a company that brings the naturally regenerative, ultra-versatile crop, to the U.S. as a whole food, plant-based source of protein, all while nourishing the body, supporting local Andean communities, and helping clean our air. As he met with local farmers, Ricky was moved by their kindness, hospitality and work ethic and supporting and working alongside chocho farmers quickly became a key part of his mission.Thanks to Ricky’s Ecuadorian heritage and personal relationships with the indigenous farming community, MIKUNAis uniquely positioned as the exclusive premium chocho supplier to the U.S. market and is able to empower Andean 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.

shop the brand

MIKUNA is redefining plant protein with Chocho, a nutrient-dense superfood grown regeneratively at high altitudes in the Andes. Rooted in Ecuadorian heritage, our products deliver clean, powerful nutrition while supporting regenerative agriculture and empowering local farming communities. At MIKUNA, we believe in fueling people and protecting the planet, one scoop at a time. Shop here