Rancho Gordo

Active

Overview

Rancho Gordo is a company specializing in heirloom beans, grains, and related grocery products sourced from small farms, primarily in the Americas. It focuses on preserving rare bean varieties with cultural significance, especially from Mexico, and sells directly to consumers via its website, Napa store, farmers' markets, and wholesalers. The company has grown from a small farmers' market operation to selling over 500,000 pounds of beans annually by 2018, emphasizing sustainable agriculture and agricultural diversity.

History

Rancho Gordo was founded in 2001 by Steve Sando in Napa, California, starting with sales at farmers' markets in Yountville using bean seeds from Seed Savers Exchange and Oaxaca, Mexico. Initial sales were slow due to beans' poor reputation in the US, but demand increased after 2005 with online sales and endorsements, leading to production growth from 300 pounds in 2001 to 500,000 pounds by 2018. Key developments include hiring agronomist James Schrupp in 2012 for crop management, expanding grower networks internationally, and launching the Rancho Gordo-Xoxoc Project for rare Mexican crops.

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Heirloom Beans	Rare traditional varieties	$6 - $12 per lb
Grains and Corn	Indigenous American staples	$5 - $10 per lb
Herbs and Spices	Specialty seasonings	$8 - $15 per package
Xoxoc Products	Rare Mexican heirlooms	$10 - $20 per package

Manufacturing

Products are grown by small-scale farmers in California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and countries including Mexico, Peru, Poland, Bolivia, and Colombia. Rancho Gordo sources, packages, and distributes from its Napa, California facility; growing is outsourced to partner farms with no in-house production.

Notable Products

Oaxaca Heirloom Beans - Traditional Mexican bean varieties sourced through partnerships in Oaxaca.
Xoconostle - Dried fruit from prickly pear cactus, imported from Mexico.
Banana Vinegar - Heirloom vinegar from a family farm in Veracruz, Mexico.
Marcella Beans - Rare Italian heirloom bean variety offered by the company.

Reputation

Rancho Gordo is praised by chefs and home cooks for reviving interest in heirloom beans and providing high-quality, flavorful varieties not found in standard groceries. It holds a cult following for its direct-to-consumer model and educational approach to bean diversity. Some note higher prices compared to commodity beans, though justified by rarity and sourcing ethics; low employee turnover reflects a stable internal culture.

Sources (8)