Our Vanilla Partners
Papantla, Veracruz
Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz
Papantla, Veracruz
Papantla, Veracruz
After selling vanilla for only a short period of time, Nicole and Roberto quickly realized that it was almost impossible to buy it directly from growers. The only available options were from middlemen who did not actually grow the vanilla. In an effort to change this, they sought to establish contact with several farmers.
Their initial interactions with these small vanilla growers were very revealing—farmers were not able to set their own prices for their vanilla, and they were paid far below asking price by middlemen. Not only did this discourage many long-time growers from continuing to cultivate such a labor-intensive crop, but it is also one of the principal reasons for the scarcity of Mexican vanilla worldwide. This lack of respect for vanilla growers and their arduous work fueled a passion in Roberto and Nicole to make a change.
They began to build partnerships with vanilla farmers across the state of Veracruz with a focus on direct-trade. By visiting the growers and their families multiple times a year, they got to know these individuals on a personal level. These values continue to be at the core of their work, and Roberto and Nicole believe that the wellbeing of their producers and families is essential to bringing you the very best vanilla.
In addition to establishing these face-to-face relationships, another goal of theirs is to help Mexican vanilla farmers succeed in their mission of preserving a crop that has grown in Mexico for centuries. In order to make this possible, Nicole and Roberto focus on two objectives; first, they let their vanilla partners set their own price for their crop. This allows the growers to reinvest in their farms and local community and also provides them with a generous income to support their families. In addition, Nicole and Roberto connect their vanilla partners with an international customer base that they otherwise would not have access to. With today’s vanilla market being dominated by other countries, Voladores Vanilla seeks to bring the spotlight back to the place where vanilla was born, thus ensuring job security for future generations of Mexican vanilla growers.
When you purchase vanilla from Voladores Vanilla, you can feel confident that you are getting a product that was grown in Mexican soil by farmers who are passionate about preserving a time-honored tradition.