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Good Morning. Governor Sabines, Under-Secretary Hughes, distinguished representatives and friends:
While looking around this facility today, it is hard to imagine that some of these coffee beans around us will soon be filling the coffee mugs of busy CEOs, eclectic artists and frenzied students in boutique coffee shops around the world. In fact, as many of the Embassy personnel here can attest by my frequent trips to Starbucks, it’s very likely to end up in my own cup! From rural Chiapas to coffee cups around the world, our Mission in Mexico has worked hard to improve the ability to link local producers with global markets.
Within Chiapas, many small scale farmers depend on coffee, and at high elevations such as this, you appreciate how unique and blessed you are to be right here in Chiapas. Specialty coffee from this region is known throughout the United States and the world, and we are here today to promote the major opportunities to improve coffee production, get better prices, protect the environment and improve the quality of life of the hard working farmers in this region.
Under the strong leadership of Gov. Sabines, our Mission in Mexico has worked with local communities to identify how to improve production, harvesting and processing. But more importantly, the local people of this region have gone to work transforming fields, communities and changing their own lives.
Before the presentation of “certificates of ownership” to each of the three communities for their new coffee processing facilities, I would like to take a minute to recognize a few people.
I’d like to recognize Agro-Industrias Unidas de México with a special certificate for their efforts to promote Chiapan coffee worldwide, and for their partnership, not only with the U.S. and the Chiapas governments, but with local communities like Tenejapa. It is my pleasure to present this award to Eduardo Esteve, Director of Agro-Industrias Unidas de México (AMSA) – “For Leadership in developing Mexico’s Specialty Coffee market”
I would also like to acknowledge the Comisión Nacional para Areas Naturales Protejidas CONANP – Nahá and Metzaboc National Reserves for supporting the ties between conservation and economic development. It is my pleasure to present this award to Director José Hernández Nava.
And now, I would like to invite the following community leaders to accept these certificates of ownership for the new coffee processing facility recently built in their communities. I greatly appreciate you coming in today to meet with us. The next time I’ll see you in your own communities.
1. Sebastian Juarez Perez, President of the Organic Producers Lacandon Forest (SPOSEL)
2. Bernabe Ruíz Gallegos, President of Comon Yaj Nop Tic
3. Mateo Guzman Giron, President of the Tenejapanec Ethnic Groups
Thank you again and May God Bless Mexico and the United States.
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