This week in Mexico there was a lot to do. We went on three different excursions. The first one was in the city of Tlaltizapan where the business students were able to see and hear a story of how a hometown tequila factory is created. The second adventure we took on was in Taxco where we heard about another co-op business starting from the ground up. Each one of these trips showed us a part of business in Latin America in a different way.
The journey begins with the tequila factory. In the land of the Zapata headquarters we visited a tequila factory. The agave plants were given as gifts to the owners of the land. This particular tequila is made from one hundred percent agave. Upon receiving the plants the men had no formal or informal training on how to make tequila from agave or any tequila plants. Slowly but surely from the ground up the men gained more and more support and funding. Other tequila factories showed the men how to produce tequila, the government became interested and loaned the new agave owners 20,000 pesos to start, and equipment was acquired.
These were the bottles of agave ready to be shelved and sold!As I was watching this process I became more appreciative of tequila. When drinking tequila one never really stops to think about where it came from or how it was made. I found how long the agave needed to be processed was the most interesting part. Among other processes, agave plants need to cook for twenty five hours, sit for another twenty five hours, and then the freshly made tequila needs to stay in oak barrels for 31 months! The agave factory was a good example of how hard it is and how many things need to be done to keep a business in working order. This visit also opened my eyes to how much the government is involved in the success or failure of a company.
UPA, the silver co-opThe next speaker we had was at a silver co-op in Taxco. This was one of my favorite speakers so far. Not only were the people very friendly, but they had a very successful co-op as well, which we have learned is not in the government’s favor here in Mexico. Upon our first step in the factory door we were warmly welcomed and offered beverages. As everyone got settled into a seat the employees began telling their story. Taxco is known for its silver mines and so many business opportunities arose for people from all parts of the country. This particular company buys kilos of silver and transforms the silver into handmade jewelry and then sells it throughout the world. On a positive note the company is very successful and has many international investors. So it is also important to know that having a successful business without much government help can happen.
Thank you Kaity, I found your entry very insightful. I also found the way tequila is made interesting, although I can't say that when I drink I do much thinking. It was also interesting to see how the government had in a way ruined this man's project, or at least wasn't really inclined to help. It was interesting to see the comparison between an enterprise that has failed and one that has had continuing success--a silver co-op in Taxco. It was interesting that the co-op had such emphasis on paying their workers fairly and had succeeded, while maybe the owner of the tequila factory did in fact pay his workers fairly, he didn't place an emphasis on it. It was also interesting to hear about how the silver co-op had built up overseas partners and how they had noticed through their work that each culture wanted different things.
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