Our love for the land and people of Yucatan, Mexico began in January 2003 after a purchase of some 1,200 acres of farm land in the middle of the Yucatan jungle. And since then, the state of Yucatan has been a home to us and its people a part of our family.
If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably read or heard about what it’s like at our farm in Yucatan. We’ve written blog after blog about Valle Del Sur – the years of sacrifice it took to make it what it is today, the way the mud feels slick as snot under your boots, and the never-ending maze of dirt roads you take to get there. But what we’ve failed to communicate is how genuinely, immensely, inherently different life is there than in the United States.
Let me explain. For approximately 6 months out of the year (October to March), Southern Valley employs around 1,100 men and women from all over the region for the winter season. They live and work on the farm during the season but after the last vegetable is shipped, they return to their homes. Most live in thatch roof, hut-style homes in very small, rural towns that we would consider more of a ‘village.’ Each family plants a small crop that they rely on for food during the off season, as there is typically not a grocery store right down the street. That’s life in Yucatan and while it may be very different than ours, there is significance to the sayings, “blessings are not possessions” and “money doesn’t buy happiness.”
So on June 4 when Tropical Storm Cristobal battered through Yucatan and in its wake left up to 78 inches of rain in a matter of hours, we were devastated. That’s over two meters of water surging through homes, misplacing entire families, and destroying the livelihoods of thousands. Homes were destroyed, crops were washed away, and many of the area’s resources gone. You can find the photos of the damage here.
If there’s anything besides farming that Southern Valley knows how to do well, it’s taking care of its people. By lunchtime the next day, the whole staff’s inbox dinged with an email from Courtney Hamilton, Kent’s daughter and Director of Operational Support, with details on how we could donate to help the people of Yucatan whose homes and life-sustaining crops fell victim to the storm. We, the employees of Southern Valley, collectively donated $10,417, and Southern Valley matched dollar per dollar, making the total donations $20,834. From the amount raised, we were able to purchase 1,500 food packets which feed a family of 4 for 3-4 days. We also purchased 40 tons of grain corn, an item used to make tortillas and other staple foods. Our donations will feed over 5,000 families. We can only hope that our donations have helped to ease some of the burdens the people of Yucatan are facing.
I say all this not to give ourselves a pat on the back or to take away from hardships that our own country is experiencing. I say this to let you know just how grateful we are for Yucatan and thankful that we were able to give back a fraction of what they have given us. It’s an understatement to say that farming there has been a blessing for us. Yes, it’s allowed us to provide our customers with fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter season, but the biggest blessing has been the love we’ve found for the people and state of Yucatan. And that is something that money can’t buy.