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Mexican Lifestyles Food & Dining 'Made In Jalisco' – Local Producers Shout From The Rooftops
Mexican Lifestyles Food & Dining 'Made In Jalisco' – Local Producers Shout From The Rooftops | 'Made In Jalisco' – Local Producers Shout From The Rooftops |
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| Written by Alex Gesheva | |
| Saturday, 21 October 2006 | |
 'Many Jalisco producers like Campo Deli are developing products with no artificial additives and preservatives, to appeal to a clean-living, health- and price-conscious consumer.' The challenges facing local small producers are often daunting enough that the survivors are worth a careful look. "A lot of us in Jalisco were trained to be laborers, not businessmen," says Manuel Muro, a producer of nopal tortillas in Arandas. "We need to teach ourselves all these skills." For Guillermo Sanchez, manager of Lacteos El Pastoreo in Tapalpa, education is the least of the problems. "We knock on many doors, but (vested) interests are very powerful and there is very little breathing room. High pressure dooms a lot of Jalisco's small businesses to failure," he says. "In other countries, you see viable projects receive support, time to stabilize. I want to grow from a micro-producer to export, but the finances just aren't there right now." But informal export of Jalisco's products is already well underway. "My cheese has been admired in the U.S., in Germany, Spain and Japan," says Sanchez. "It just traveled in people's bags to get there." Many Jalisco producers receive some support through the state's Economic Promotion Department, which offers business counseling and space at promotional events, such as last month's Food Expo. But for now, what Jalisco producers crave most is increased awareness and support for local offerings. "If I could climb on the rooftops and shout so people would hear, I would," says Muro. "We make delicious, affordable, well-made things and they come from right here in Jalisco, from fresh ingredients. Try us!" Locally-made preserves, cheeses, vinegars, cactus tortillas strive to find a niche Campo Deli Campo Deli is a group of 14 women who in 2003 decided that too much of the guayaba crop in Jalisco was going to waste. They now distribute nationally and have expanded to include a variety of scrumptious fruit recipes. The product: 100-percent fruit marmalades, jellies and vinaigrettes, with surprising combinations like peach/fig and pineapple/sweet potato. None of the products (including a line of 'diabetic/light' mango and guayaba marmalades sweetened with agave honey) contain chemicals or artificial preservatives. In response to popular demand, they are also developing recipes for kiwi marmalade and chipotle and chile spreads. Where to find them: In Guadalajara, Campo Deli products are sold in Ananda, Av. Union 587 in Colonia Americana; Patita Polola at the corner of Gobernador Curiel and Lazaro Cardenas; and Panaderia Muru, Guadalupe 6643 in Providencia. In Ajijic, they are available at Jalisco Produce on Carretera Poniente 2b, near the plaza bus stop. From November, they will also be sold in Super Lake. Carmelita Carmelita began making European cheeses about 25 years ago, when they distributed door-to-door. Now, they supply restaurants and hotels with fine cheeses. Their factory is in Tlajomulco and all the milk they use comes from the area. The product: Carmelita makes a variety of European cheeses, including Camembert, Brie, Edam, Boursin and various goat cheeses. After years of experience, the company has become adept at managing Jalisco's main cheese challenge: the quality and water-content of cow and goat milk changes dramatically between the dry and rainy season. Where to find them: Carmelita no longer distributes in the Lake Chapala area, but welcome visitors and buyers at their Guadalajara location on Av. Inglaterra 2844 and can be reached at 3563-6200. Tortilla de Nopal Tortilla de Nopal was started about four years ago by an Arandas veterinarian, Manuel Muro. Suffering from severe colitis and stomach ailments, Muro found that nopal (cactus) eased digestion. The six partners operate as rural producers with a government grant. They grow, process, make and package the tortillas on site in Arandas. The product: Mestizas tortillas, soon to become Nopadeli, are made with corn, liquid nopal and wheat germ and contain no artificial preservatives. They are rich in fibre, amino acids, calcium and protein and are useful in the diabetic's diet to lower sugar and cholesterol. As the producers explain, nopal is one aspect of Mexico's nutritional heritage that should not be left behind. Beginning next year, the company will also develop recipes for nopal tostadas and tostopos and nopal and prickly pear marmalade. They are also seeking organic certification for their nopal crop. Where to find them: Mestizas and Nopadeli tortillas are sold in Ajijic's Super Lake and Jalisco Produce. In Guadalajara, they can be found in natural food stores like Patita Polola. Lacteos El Pastoreo Lacteos El Pastoreo is a group of rural producers in Tapalpa who opened shop in 2,000 and specialize in artesanal Mexican cheeses and dairy products The product: Traditionally-made cheeses including jalapeno chile infusions, pepper and garlic spiced, unflavoured and matured cheese. In addition, they offer fresh and pickled panela cheese, butter, requeson, crema, cottage cheese and cajeta. All products are made with no artificial preservatives and vacuum-packed for freshness and meet all modern health standards. El Pastoreo also distributes Tojahui, locally-made balsamic and garlic and rosemary vinegars, created by internationally-recognized Spanish chef Antonio Sayavedra, who is a longtime resident of Jalisco. Where to find them: In Tapalpa, the El Pastoreo store is behind the city hall. In Guadalajara, the products can be found at Mexico Gourmet in Col. Ladron de Guevara (J. Luis Perez Verdia 596); Deli Chapalita on Avenida Tepeyac between Cubilete and Arbol; and at Xycotencatl 302 in Ciudad del Sol. The management also hopes to become part of the Jalisco Produce cooperative project in Ajijic. |
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