DISASTER RELIEF FOR MEXICAN VANILLA FARMERS

As many of you know, Hurricane Dean landed twice in Mexico, first in the Yucatan and then in the state of Veracruz.  The second landing was in the heart of the Mexican agricultural region.  What has not been in the news is the amount of devastation that occurred in the state of Veracruz in a region locally known as Totonacapan, the place of the Totonacs, the indigenous Mexicans whose ancestors were the first to domesticate vanilla.

While this is the center of the Mexican vanilla growing region, it is much more than that.  The majority of Mexico's citrus, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, mangoes, papayas and more come from the state of Veracruz.   Dean's high winds destroyed or caused massive damage to all of these crops.  It blew the roofs off of most of the homes of the Totonacs and the poor; subsequent torrential rains that have continued to fall have destroyed all their possessions.  There is no place provided for the thousands who are now homeless and they are sleeping wherever they can they can find some shelter.

The vanilla beans initially survived the storm as they're tough.  However, the leaves were blown off the tutor trees that protect the vanilla from the harsh tropical sun and also from tropical storms.  The sun then burned the beans, and when the torrential rains returned, they were knocked from the vines.  Much of the crop was ruined.

On September 26^th, almost exactly one month after Hurricane Dean landed, Hurricane Lorenzo grew from a tropical depression in a matter of hours and slammed ashore in the same town in Veracruz!  This is a region that rarely is hit by hurricanes; to have two storms in one month is unprecedented.  There was additional destruction from the second hurricane and now nearly all of the crops have been ruined.

Unfortunately, the Mexican government has done little to assist the people of this region.  There are no government agencies such as FEMA.  However, the impact of their loss will be felt by us all.  Citrus and bananas will be more expensive this winter.  As 25,000 Caribbean banana farmers also lost their fruit to the hurricanes, bananas will be a scarce commodity.  Of even greater concern is the fact that many of these farmers will risk coming north to find work as illegal laborers to help their families survive. 

The sister site to The Vanilla.COMpany is the International Tropical Farmers Network (ITFN).  This is an international farmers group with members representing all the vanilla growing regions of the world.  We had planned a meeting in Taracuan in late September at ITFN member Norma Vallejo's home. (Norma Vallejo is also a graduate of the 2006 Women Leaders for the World program at Santa Clara University.)  Several women ITFN members from four countries planned to gather to launch our women's collectives on September 26th.  We then planned to have our general meeting October 1^st and 2^nd to set up the ITFN as a non-profit organization.  Norma's plantation and home were badly damaged as is the hotel where we were to meet.  The second hurricane destroyed what little had been cleaned up from the first storm.  We have had to postpone our meetings indefinitely.

HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR MEXICAN NEIGHBORS

We are accepting donations to buy galvanized metal for roofs and to provide staples for the indigenous and poor farmers so that they can rebuild their lives and return to farming. ITFN members in Mexico will purchase roofing and other emergency goods and get them to people who most need assistance.

One roof for a very modest home costs $270.  This includes ten sheets of galvanized metal, wood trim and nails.  Hundreds of roofs are needed.  A donation of any amount is helpful.  Even small donations add up toward a roof.  For the families who receive a roof, this is a lifeline, a way to rebuild their lives.  By assisting with roofs we are showing the farmers who produce our luxury crops that we care and that they have not been forgotten.

Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, California, has agreed to be our fiscal sponsor.  All donations are completely tax deductible. 

Your generosity will bring hope and gratitude to people who have continually been overlooked and undervalued by the Mexican government.  Help us show these people that Americans are generous and that we care.

Thank you so much!  The Vanilla Queen