Organic farming in Mexico

Ronald Nigh (danamex@mail.internet.com.mx)
Tue, 13 Apr 1999 13:43:13 -0500

Dear sanet,
I am sitting in our not-for profit shop in Mexico City surrounded by boxes
of organic produce (no certificiation. We produce fresh veggies on a 5
acre farm in Chaldo or we buy directly from growers whose operations we
know). These boxes will be delivered directly to the customers who send in
their order each week. Now we have more than thirty regular customers,
individuals and a few restaurants, a natural health clinic, etc. As I
write, beautiful Marta just walked in the door with two big boxes of
equally beautiful organic raspberries she grows in Chalmita, along with
vegetables, avocados, chickens and eggs.

As all this happens, I just read two different messages on SANET sayin that
there is no market for organics in Mexico and that people would be too poor
to buy them anyway. Discouraging things are being said about export. This
may seem odd, but a number of US organic products (eg. from Colorado) are
available in the supermarkets here. Expensive--but they sell.

There is a small but rapidly growing organic market in Mexico and, though
they may not say so if you asked them in a survey, even poor people are
willing to pay a little more for quality organic food. It's true because
we see it happen every day.

Things aren't always what they seem.

Ronald Nigh
Dana, A.C.
Mexico, D.F. & San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas
Tel. y FAX 525-666-73-66 (DF)
529-678-72-15 (Chiapas)
danamex@mail.internet.com.mx

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