Aquilli Metlzi Masa
“They helped us understand business culture and how to articulate ourselves in the business world so that we can get funding and think through the financials and running a business. Helped us with projections, making a marketing plan, and having somebody to ask.” -Adriana
BACKGROUND
Aquilli Metzli is a seed-to-table enterprise operating as a community-powered collective in Arcata, California. The business model centers on cultivating ancestral corn, beans, and other crops across four local farms to build a resilient, Humboldt-based food supply. Driven by passionate volunteer work parties, the team manages the entire process from spring planting to the hand-processing of dried cobs. Backed by an NCGA Redwood Region Rise grant, they utilize specialized grinding equipment to perform traditional nixtamalization, transforming their harvest into a smooth, high-quality, artisan masa.
Inspiration
The business was born from a deep desire among local Latin American and Indigenous individuals to reconnect with the traditional foods of their respective countries and return to a land-based, community-first lifestyle. Wanting to give back to the earth and build a self-sustaining community, one of the founding members began hosting community dinners and collaborative meetings. This welcoming space allowed the founders to pool their passions and lay the groundwork to transition their shared cultural values into a functional agricultural collective.
Challenges
While the agricultural and community aspects of the project flowed naturally, launching a formal enterprise brought steep barriers. Navigating the business formation and establishing a legal entity as a cooperative proved to be incredibly difficult.
“[SBDC]…Helped us understand business culture, how to articulate ourselves in the business world so that we can get funding and think through the financials or running a business. [SBDC]…Helped us with projections, making marketing plan, and having somebody to ask”
RESULTS
The most impactful technical assistance came from the SBDC’s network and individual support. Aquilli Metzli’s SBDC advisor helped them safely navigate the complex business formation process, ultimately guiding the group to structure as a corporation that still honors their cooperative principles. Furthermore, the SBDC opened doors by connecting Aquilli Metzli with other members of the community like Salmon Returns. The SBDC also assisted with facilitating collaborations with organizations like StartUp Humboldt, allowing them to integrate deeply into the local business ecosystem.
The collaboration culminated in a major milestone in April 2026, when Adriana and her team hosted their very first successful pop-up at the Arcata Farmers Market. Today, Aquilli Metzli is a thriving reality, successfully circulating local wealth and heritage back into Humboldt County. Their smooth, stone-ground masa is readily available to the public every Saturday at the Arcata Farmers Market, on retail shelves at the Humboldt Tortilla Depot and Seagoat Farmstand, and via bulk online orders at aquillimetzli.com.
