Leaving the country for Ecuadorians did not mean that they had to completely abandon their traditions and more than gastronomy, such as one of the typical dishes: roasted guinea pig. Frozen and live can be found in the United States, either in supermarkets or at farms, for prices ranging from $24 to $40, and pre-prepared and ready-to-eat for up to $60.

100% of Ecuadorian guinea pig exports go to that country, according to the Vice President of the Ministry of Export and Investment Promotion, and this is mainly due to consumption by the Ecuadorian and Latin American communities. And there they are recognized because they are the biggest.

According to the classification of the Central Bank of Ecuador, the guinea pig belongs to the group of meat, milk and processed products. And in this area, according to the Ministry of the Vice President, Ecuador exported a total amount of 537,000 dollars between January 2018 and April 2023. In 2022, the export of guinea pigs represented 8.57%. While from January to April of this year, exports amounted to 94,000 dollars, which increased in value by 136 percent.

At prices ranging from 69 cents to more than $30, Ecuadorian products are sold in supermarkets in the United States

Prices are low here in Ecuador when you consider that they start at $8 for prep and $12 ready to serve, they are more in the United States.

What is the price of guinea pig in different presentations in the United States and Ecuador?

A frozen guinea pig that can be found in American supermarkets costs between 23.99 and 26 dollars, and a lot of them come from Ecuador, according to one compatriot, she recognizes them by their size, “they are bigger”, she says.

According to the Ministry of the Vice President, between January 2018 and April 2023, the export of guinea pigs was registered by fifteen Ecuadorian companies from Quito, Guayaquil, Azogues and Ambat.

The value of a live guinea pig, so on American farms, ranges between 30 and 40 dollars.

Compatriots can also find this product prepared and accompanied by a nickname and potatoes, the price is between 50 and 60 dollars.

While in Ecuador, the cost of preparing a guinea pig is between $8 and $12; guinea pig prepared and served with mote, sambo seed sauce, mote and egg, is between $15 and $20.

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Although the product can be found in supermarkets and on American farms, the relatives of Ecuadorians living in that country have not lost the tradition of sending this product, but baked. The modality is by the pound, the agencies weigh and it is generally five pounds, the price of each pound is $4.

How is it exported?

In order to export the product, companies must meet a number of requirements both in Ecuador and in the country of destination, and here in the country, one of them is to go through the Agency for Phyto and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control (Agrocalidad), and precisely for the departure of guinea pigs, the competent animal health coordinator , Julio Mejía, says it depends on the country of destination.

“Since there are several modalities for the mobilization of this type of goods, the ones that should be carried out directly with the export certification are the authorities or requirements of the country of destination,” he says.

Regarding the certificates that Agrocalidad would have as food safety related to the production and slaughter of guinea pigs, it is indicated that there are two types:

In addition, Moreno Gálvez indicates that they have an additional scope, which is the export Mabio, in case the country of destination requires certain requirements of international standards. Within the export Mabio, they have much more demanding requirements that must be met by companies when exporting.