Tarwi, an ancestral Andean superfood, entered the Guinness World Records after reaching 1,425.45 kilograms in a salad prepared in El Porvenir district, Trujillo province, Peru's northern La Libertad region on Sunday.
The dish included tarwi, green onions, red bell pepper (California/Kapia/Piquillo), cilantro, red limo chili, garlic, salt, and lime.
This initiative was part of the "National Tarwi Day." It was organized by the San Ignacio de Loyola University, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), and the company Danper, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The event aimed to highlight the value of this Andean grain, promote its consumption, create new opportunities in international markets, and strengthen the production chain of this food, especially for the families dedicated to its cultivation.
The preparation began on the night of September 6 at Danper's facilities, under the supervision of health inspectors and Guinness World Records judge, Colombian Natalia Ramirez. She verified every step of the process, from the quality of the ingredients to the safety of the environment.
The next day, a tray measuring five meters long and one and a half meters wide was brought to El Porvenir's Main Square.
At the site, the ingredients were mixed in front of thousands of attendees, who witnessed the record's completion in a festive atmosphere.
At 1:15 p.m., the Guinness World Records judge announced a salad weight of 1,425.45 kilograms. Thus, the globe's largest tarwi salad was officially recognized as a new world record.
Ramirez highlighted that this new record helps promote tarwi as a nutritious and accessible food for the planet.
She also noted all biosecurity standards were met and that a qualified team handled the ingredients, while, together with Midagri, the authenticity of the tarwi used was verified.
After the result was announced, USIL's founder and president, Raul Diez Canseco emphasized that this record opens new opportunities for small farmers through the promotion of Peruvian superfoods.
USIL's Executive President Luciana de la Fuente highlighted tarwi's potential to combat anemia and malnutrition in Peru due to its high nutritional value.
Danper CEO Rosario Bazan dedicated this achievement to El Porvenir residents, especially the women concerned with their families' nutrition.
She also thanked USIL and Midagri for their partnership, as well as the FAO for their support in reaching this goal.
In the same vein, Deputy Agrarian Development and Irrigation Minister Orlando Chirinos stated that the efforts of the teams involved put tarwi in the global spotlight as an alternative to combat malnutrition.
Thus, La Libertad region adds its second Guinness World Record, following the 784.53-kilogram artichoke salad recorded in Trujillo in 2019.
Thanks to this achievement, USIL reaches its twelfth Guinness World Record in promoting Peruvian superfoods such as quinoa, potatoes, cacao, aguaje, artichokes, olives, avocados, rocoto, Pisco, and Ceviche.
According to Midagri, La Libertad accounts for 28% of the national tarwi production, followed by Cusco, Apurimac, Huanuco, Junin, Puno, and Ancash.
