A new organization has been formed in central Mexico uniting two traditional groups of growers in an effort to boost production and enter mainstream national and foreign markets.

Photo: Tlilmekaxochitl Agricultural Producers Society

The two groups, the Tlilmekaxochitl Agricultural Producers Society (SPAT) and the Southern La Hausteca Citrus Producers (PCHS) bring together small indigenous farmers in the La Hausteca region on the southern Gulf coast.

They will be supported by the National Management Service (Senages), a civil society that will train the two groups in market management, technical skills, infrastructure, and equipment.

During the Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) Fresh Connections: Mexico event, SPAT sales manager Arely Reyes García spoke to www.freshfruitportal.com about how the organization works and its main goals.

"The main focus is on raising the levels of production. We are located in La Hausteca, in the central state of San Luis Potosí, and we cover 14 municipalities," she said.

"In total we have 300 member producers. They are all small famers, the majority of whom are indigenous and have strong traditions."

The two indigenous groups, the Náhuatl and the Tenek, are deeply rooted in organic farming and so traditionally do not use chemicals.

García explained that the two groups work together agriculturally partly as that way it is easier to obtain certain certifications, assuring consumers that the produce is organic.

By working together, the groups are better positioned to go into the market, which can be hard for producers of their size.

"It's difficult, as many others have said here at Fresh Connections: Mexico, for these producers to stand out. However, it's not impossible and we are currently helping these small companies enter the markets," she said.

The organization currently has 30 technicians who are responsible for maximizing the potential of plots and training the farmers.

So far they have managed to increase production of oranges by an average of four metric tons (MT) per plot, but they still face other issues which arise from growing organic crops.

"We have problems with pests and diseases. That is our main issue. For example, all our oranges are organic, but they are all sold to the juice industry as we have a problem with fruit flies that are impossible to control with organic management methods," García added.

"However, this has led us to seek alternatives and continue to improve out training so as to have better crop management."

The fact that many producers have strong traditions has meant it has been even more important to train and to keep constant track of their work.

As such, in the last three years the organization has managed to create logs, along with keeping track of production in each area, the number of producers on each plot, and what each one does specifically.

Currently, the organization is only working at a local level, but in the future it hopes to expand into exports.

"We are participating in the organic markets of the state of San Luis Potosí, which is celebrated every 15 days. We are in the process of certification, and so as yet we are limited with regards to markets, but we soon hope to enter into various supermarket chains. That's the stage we're at," García said.

García expects the farmers will see their produce in supermarkets along with the appropriate certification within two years, but she said they will also need support from the government and non-profit institutions.

"They are people of low-income, but you present your plans to them and they say, 'Yes, we will invest because we can really see that we are starting to do it right.' It's difficult, but we're getting there."

Photo: Tlilmekaxochitl Agricultural Producers Society

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