La Comandanta

La Comandanta aims to improve the livelihoods of Mexican farmers through fair trade and to preserve the biodiversity of native seeds.

In Mexico, many traditional farmers are abandoning their lands in search of better income opportunities, leading to the loss of generational agricultural knowledge. The farmers who do stay often struggle to sell their products because they can't meet the tough demands of modern retailers. In urban areas, people mostly eat industrialised and processed foods, which puts native seeds and ancient cooking methods at risk.

La Comandanta is working to address these challenges by improving the livelihoods of Mexican farmers through fair trade and preserving the biodiversity of native seeds.

The social enterprise identifies and purchases authentic Mexican creole and native foods from indigenous communities and traditional farmers at fair prices. It then promotes these products and opens market access for them.

For farmers, La Comandanta ensures an agreed supply from the start, respects traditional farming processes and guarantees fair prices without intermediaries, which increases farmers' incomes by around 30%. The enterprise sources 13 native seeds from local farmers, which are grown using traditional methods.

La Comandanta offers genuine, natural Mexican native foods, such as beans, flour, salsa, and sauces, available as packaged goods or in bulk for different client needs. Customers in Mexico and USA can purchase products directly from the La Comandanta online store or from Amazon, major retailers like Costco and HEB, and specialty shops like Smartfish Mercado Consciente. Each purchase supports and preserves the traditional biodiversity of native seeds and aids local farmers from vulnerable communities.

Programme support

La Comandanta has established strong business and solid partnerships with major retailers in central Mexico. During the Mexico Accelerator Programme, we'll support La Comandanta in scaling its business and impact. We'll provide guidance in obtaining global certifications, developing its strategy to meet the production demands of international markets, and developing expansion plans for the USA and European markets.