When Steve Sando grew his first heirloom beans he was struck by the depth of flavor and complex texture. What started as a small passion project at farmers markets quickly revealed a much bigger appetite for heirloom beans within the community.

Heirloom Beans tend to have a lower yield and can be much more difficult to grow but the pay off is in the unique flavors and textures that you don't find with bland commodity beans. To bring these varieties to more tables, Rancho Gordo partners with farms across the U.S. and Xoxoc to support small farms in Mexico.

The farmers pre-sell their harvest, removing the risk of taking their crops to market. Instead of growing bland, hybrid crops for international markets, they can continue growing the varieties they know best, often varieties that have been grown for generations. Bean cultivation is a regenerative win from start to finish, naturally enriching the soil, and returning the leftover pods to the earth as green manure. Through Rancho Gordo, access to many completely obscure and wonderful beans has expanded, offering varieties that would be almost impossible to try otherwise.