Meet your Farmers

Every 3 years, the UPCTIZ Co-op holds elections to bring in new leadership. They placed the 3 year term limit into their by-laws to allow other Co-op members the chance to step up and have an impact in the future of the communities that they serve.

During these past years, Ladislao Solano has served as President with passion, commitment and an energy level that has prompted the Co-op to grow to it's current membership of 400 farming families.

On Wednesday, May 30th 2012 the Co-op held those elections and Wenseslao Jarquin was voted in as the newest UPCTIZ President.

The Growers First Foundation is very excited in continuing it's work along side this new leadership. Wenseslao adds very unique and timely abilities that we feel will elevate the entire region to a greater level of confidence and unity that they have built over the last three years.

Wenseslao, who is of the Mixe people group, is married to a Zapotec women and speaks both the Zapotec and Mixe languages very fluently. This unique skill set has already proven to add an increased level of trust in the communication toward the current and future direction of the Co-op.

Along with Wenseslao becoming the new President, 3 other new members have been added into the cabinet of leaders. 

Patricio Valerio is now the Treasurer.

Inocencio Pedro is acting as an overseer and advisor of the new leadership team.

Saul Valdivia has now taken on the responsibilities of Secretary.

Eight years ago, Lao was one of the poorest farmers in his remote village in San Miguel. To get his crop to market, he had to go through the local "coyote" loan shark who gave him next to nothing for his crop.

Through Growers First, we were able to help Lao yield a higher quality crop and get a better price. Through our micro-credit loans, Lao expanded his farm. He is now the leader of his co-op and an inspiration to farmers in the community.

Last year, Lao sold his crop for $10,693, a 500% increase in his income since 2006. Which keeps his wife, Matia, happy and making plenty of her special rattlesnake tamales. They go perfect with coffee.