Today we’d like to introduce you to Juana Olazabal.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My love for plants didn’t start as a business idea, it started at home.
I was born and raised in Peru, and plants were always part of my life. My dad has always loved plants. Wherever we lived, he planted something. Fruit trees especially, anything he could grow, he would try. He was born in the highlands of Peru, where life is closely tied to the land. My grandparents were farmers, and as a child I often visited them in their town in their town in the highlands, Sarayca, Apurimac. Being there shaped me deeply. I learned to respect nature, to observe it, and to understand that the land gives back when you care for it. That connection stayed with me.
When we moved to the United States in 2017, my parents immediately began growing the plants we missed from home. Peruvian herbs, ají peppers, and fruit trees that carried memories of our culture. I love cooking and eating, Peruvian food needs to be cooked with fresh ingredients, and all that we find at stores here is frozen. Thats why having the fresh produce grown at home made me miss home less. At the time, I was studying for my bachelor’s degree in Economics at UCF. Having my parents here, and seeing familiar plants growing again, made the distance from home feel smaller. That’s when my love for plants truly took root.
One day, we had so much huacatay, a culinary herb Peruvians deeply love, that we couldn’t use it all. My mom decided to put it into pots and told me to sell it. She has always believed in my entrepreneurial abilities. I posted the plants for sale, and soon Peruvians from all over the state started coming to our house, some driving more than three hours. They didn’t just want huacatay. They wanted more plants, more flavors, more memories.
That moment made something very clear to me: people are willing to drive far just to feel close to home. That’s when the idea of Inca Plant was born.
In 2021, I got married, and my husband and I moved to agricultural land that was literally, a forest. There was only a manufactured home on the property. My husband is someone who truly loves hard work. He started clearing the land himself, and over time he became an incredible gardener. He loves the science behind how plants grow. I love observing nature and the quiet beauty of the process. Together, we built something from nothing.
That’s when Inca Plant Nursery officially became a business.
We started with just a few plants in the backyard of our home and selling at farmers markets. Today, we grow and offer more than 200 plant species from around the world, not only Peruvian plants, but plants that represent many cultures.
Inca Plant Nursery is more than a nursery. It’s a tribute to my grandparents, to my parents, to the land that raised me, and to everyone who carries their homeland in their heart. Our goal is to help people feel connected, to their roots, their memories, and to nature itself.
Because sometimes, a single plant can make you feel at home again.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
Nature has been both our greatest teacher and our biggest challenge. Since starting Inca Plant Nursery, we’ve been through hurricanes, heavy flooding, and now freezing temperatures—things you don’t really prepare for until you live through them.
Hurricanes brought intense winds and rain that damaged plants we had spent years growing. Flooding tested our land, our infrastructure, and our patience. There were moments when we lost entire sections of plants overnight, and you have to make peace with the fact that nature is ultimately in control.
More recently, freezes have become a new challenge. Protecting tropical and subtropical plants during cold nights means long hours, constant monitoring, covering plants, moving inventory, and sometimes making tough decisions about what you can save and what you can’t.
These experiences are emotionally and physically exhausting—but they’ve also shaped us. Each challenge forced us to learn, adapt, and grow stronger. We improved drainage, redesigned growing areas, built better protection systems, and became more resilient as growers and as a family.
Working with plants teaches you humility. You learn that success doesn’t come from control, but from respect for nature and the ability to respond when things don’t go as planned.
The road hasn’t been easy—but it’s been meaningful. And every challenge has reinforced why we do this: because growing plants, like building a life, requires patience, resilience, and faith in tomorrow.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Inca Plant Nursery?
Inca Plant Nursery is a family rooted, culture driven nursery built on respect for the land and the people it serves.
We grow and offer a wide selection of edible and fruiting plants with a strong focus on culturally significant varieties. We are especially known for Peruvian ají peppers, traditional culinary herbs like huacatay, and rare tropical and subtropical fruit trees that are difficult to find in conventional nurseries. Over time, our collection has expanded to include more than 200 plant species from different parts of the world, allowing people from many cultures to reconnect with flavors and plants they grew up with.
What sets us apart is that we do not just sell plants. We preserve stories, memories, and love for our culture. Every plant we grow is chosen with intention. We focus on healthy root systems, proper acclimation to Florida conditions, and honest education so our customers can succeed long after they leave the nursery.
We are known for working closely with home gardeners, collectors, chefs, and small farmers, offering guidance that is practical and real. We grow in challenging conditions and have learned through hurricanes, flooding, and freezes how to adapt and build resilience into our growing practices. That experience shapes how we grow and how we advise others.
Brand wise, what we are most proud of is trust. People drive long distances to visit us because they know they will find plants grown with care and information shared with honesty. Many of our customers tell us they feel at home the moment they arrive, and that is something we value deeply.
What we want readers to know is that Inca Plant Nursery is more than a place to buy plants. It is a space where culture, biodiversity, and community meet. Our goal is to help people feel connected to their roots, their food, and the land, while encouraging a deeper respect for nature and sustainable growing.
For us, planting is not just about today. It is about preserving what matters for the future.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Respect Pachamama, the Andean concept of Mother Earth in Quechua.
It means understanding that nature is not something we own or control, but something we live in relationship with. Pachamama gives life, and in return, we are responsible for caring for her with gratitude, balance, and respect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.incaplant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/incaplant?igsh=anZ0d3h2cXpod29k
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/incaplant?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@incaplant?si=rvDVyluWjDXDGdFt
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@incaplant?_r=1&_t=ZP-93djfT6jMRb
