Based in Santa Clara, in Ecuador’s Pastaza Province, Yunac is transforming locally grown plantains into value-added products that celebrate the flavors and cultural identity of the Amazon. Led by Erick Vargas, the company produces snacks such as salted plantain chips and sweet ripe plantain chips, guided by a vision of creating positive social, environmental, and economic impact.
At the heart of Yunac's business model is a commitment to sourcing local ingredients and strengthening connections between Amazonian farmers and new markets.
The plantains used in Yunac's products come from farming families and producer organizations across the Ecuadorian Amazon. One of its suppliers is the Jury Jury Kawsay Association, located in Arajuno, which has supplied plantains for the company’s snacks.
Unlike the large-scale monoculture plantations found in some agricultural regions, plantains in the Amazon are commonly grown on diversified family farms and within traditional chakras. These biodiverse growing systems bring together food crops, medicinal plants, and tree species, reflecting generations of Indigenous and local knowledge while supporting more diverse and resilient agricultural production.
By sourcing plantains locally and transforming them into value-added products, Yunac aims to create income opportunities for farming families while bringing the flavors and identity of the Amazon to a wider market.
From Packaging Improvements to Market Expansion
As Yunac began to expand, Erick identified a challenge that could limit the company’s growth: the Amazon’s high temperatures, combined with inadequate storage conditions after distribution, could compromise product quality and shelf life.
Rather than allowing this challenge to hinder the business, Erick saw an opportunity to innovate.
Through Pacha Emprende, Fundación Pachamama’s bioeconomy acceleration program, the company strengthened a key component of its product: its packaging.
Yunac redesigned its packaging, switching from transparent bags to metallized packaging that offers better product protection and meets Ecuadorian regulatory requirements. This change helps preserve product quality while enhancing the brand’s presentation as the company prepares to reach new retail outlets and markets.
“We decided to improve our packaging so we could reach new market segments, access new points of sale, and expand the geographic distribution of our products,” said Erick.
For Yunac, improved packaging represents much more than a visual upgrade. It creates new opportunities to expand distribution, remain competitive, and introduce Amazonian products to more consumers.
The company is also connected to the Amazonian Chakra Seal (Sello Chakra Amazónica) initiative, which recognizes the origin, cultural identity, and sustainable practices associated with products grown within traditional Amazonian chakras.
Yunac's journey reflects an important part of PachaEmprende’s vision: helping Amazonian enterprises overcome practical barriers to growth while strengthening value chains rooted in local production, biodiversity, and cultural identity.
From plantains cultivated in Amazonian chakras to snacks reaching new markets, Yunac demonstrates how innovation and tradition can work together to create economic opportunities while keeping value rooted in the Amazon.