Page 43 - Almanacco_ENG_2014

letting producerS SpeakCommunity leaders Emma Villanueva Buendía and Abel Rodríguez Rivera run the Casa Tlalmamatla integrated project, which adds value to differ- ent products from the milpa and their family-run plot. Their products include tortillas, tlacoyos and tamales made using native corn varieties, as well as at least 10 bean varieties, three native avocado varieties, cultivated and wild native tropical fruit, and much more.It was not easy for them to seek new commercial opportunities. The large organic food shops, for example, askfor credit, demand competitive prices and offer payment conditions that are not advantageous to small-scale farm- ers. What’s more, many also require organic certification, which is a big stumbling block for many producers. At the Mercado el 100, the main moti- vation is not a need to make money, but rather to create relationships of mutual trust. Giving producers the chance to communicate directly with consumers returns value to local foods, and devel- ops better understanding of the work that lies behind every single tortilla.43Find out moreThe Earth Markets are an international network of producers, farmers and consumers who respect Slow Food’s philosophy. There are currently 38 Earth Markets located around the world, from Austria to Turkey to India. www.earthmarkets.net