Tecpán in a Globalized World

The (More-or-Less) Traditional Economic Bases
1. milpa agriculture
        -about half of all adult males are farmers
        -strong cultural associations linked to milpa and maize
2. commercial farming
        -mostly wheat, rotated with milpa
        -some coffee, avocadoes, 'truck crops'
3. small stores, propane tank factory, sweater factories

Neoliberal Reforms in Guatemala
-deregulating markets
-getting rid of price controls on basic foodstuffs (corn, beans, wheat)
-privatizing national industries (telecoms, railroad)
-reducing tariffs (opening up their market to U.S. and other foreign goods)
-promoted by IMF, World Bank, U.S., and others

Globalization

1952: three-minute call from Guatemala to the U.S. $20.15 (2001 $)
2001: same call cost about $0.50

Globalization, Broccoli, and the Maya
        A. Nontraditional Agricultural Export crops
                1. broccoli, snow peas, blackberries, raspberries, etc. for export to the US
                2. mostly grown by smallholding Maya farmers
                3. labor intensive, favors smallholders

planting:

       
harvesting:


packing:

U.S. broccoli consumption (courtesy of the USDA):


An icon of healthy eating:
(Photos by Avery Dickins)

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