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The Advent of Sustainable Agriculture in Cuquio with a Community Supported Agriculture Program for Guadalajara, Jalisco
Those of you who have read The Farmworkers’ Journey are well aware of the impact that NAFTA and so-called “Green Revolution” technologies have had on the rural countryside. Many corn farmers have been forced by NAFTA to flee their lands in order to avert starvation. Those who stay behind with their families often find their lands unproductive after years of growing imported seed with the required agrochemicals. There is a growing interest among local farmers in organic sustainable crop production. Dr. López has suggested the possibility of developing a Community Supported Agriculture program that would serve the needs of the growing number of Guadalajara consumers who are looking for and demanding organic produce. Such a venture would provide farmers with much-needed income and allow them to avoid the unwelcome prospect of immigration. A recent graduate of UCSC's Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) six-month apprenticeship program has expressed an interest in working with the farmers in Cuquio to develop organic production and a CSA with Guadalajara.
Dr. López met with a group of women that have formed an organic cooperative entitled Cooperativa Mujeres Campesinas en Acción. Their goal is to grow “clean” food for their families while protecting the water systems of the area and other aspects of the ecology. Rosa Hilda Rodriguez is the group’s leader (see photo below). The cooperative owns approximately seven ha. (17 acres) among its members. Along with the unemployed corn farmers introduced above, Rosa’s group is very interested in starting a Community Supported Agriculture program with Guadalajara.
To reinforce local government support for this venture, a local councilman has offered to lend 10 hectares of his pristine land for the purpose of bringing organic agriculture to the Cuquio countryside. A promising new development in Cuquio is the sale of certified organic fertilizer (see photo above). With the increase in oil prices worldwide, agrochemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that are oil-based have become prohibitively expensive. Organic alternatives are thus in demand as a less expensive alternative. Dr. López is currently meeting with local Santa Cruz farmers who have sustainable agriculture farming experience and have managed CSAs in California. The Center’s goal is to bring an experienced farmer to Cuquio for an extended workshop in organic produce production and CSA development; to be attended by interested unemployed corn farmers. Please check our website regularly. We will provide you with updates on how this project is developing. Please donate generously so that we can continue this important work.  
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