Growing Opportunity, One Pepper at a Time
Growing Opportunity, One Pepper at a Time
July 23, 2026 | Lina Valbuena
Vanessa Vélez once traveled twelve hours carrying her pepper on her back because it was too dangerous to sell it in her own community. Today, her products are reaching buyers across Colombia—and beyond.
Vanessa Vélez began builing her business in Putumayo, Colombia, a region shaped by decades of conflict. She believed in the quality of her pepper, but finding customers was one of her biggest challenges. It was too dangerous to sell her products in the local market, and every opportunity to grow required extraordinary determination.
Vanessa knew her business could do more. She just needed access to the right opportunities. When she joined Building Markets, she found the support she had been searching for.
Working alongside the Building Markets Colombia team, Vanessa strengthened her supply chain, refined her packaging, and prepared her business to compete in larger markets. Through Building Markets' matchmaking program, she connected directly with buyers she never would have reached on her own. Those connections led to her first export contract to the United States and opened the door to continued international growth.
Today, La Gran Pimienta sells throughout Colombia and is expanding into international markets.
As her business grows, so does her impact. Vanessa is creating quality jobs in her community, especially single mothers who now can support their families. She hopes to hire even more people as exports continue to grow. Every new contract means more opportunity for families in Putumayo and proof that businesses in conflict-affected communities can compete on the global stage.
"I always believed in the quality of our product. Building Markets helped us connect with the opportunities that allowed others to believe in it too."
Vanessa's story is a reminder that talent is everywhere.
Sometimes, all that's missing is opportunity.