Valentina Santiago Gutiérrez, a mezcal producer from San Baltazar Guelavila, in the Central Valleys, reported that she was the victim of fraud by a foreign woman who promised to buy a large production of this drink from her.
In an interview, she said that after a year without work, a foreign woman offered to buy her and her husband’s production of five thousand liters per month, a project that would last up to 10 years.
The expectation of investment and to recover the time they were out of work made them trust the woman, who made them take out a loan to invest in the purchase of maguey, firewood and labor.
“The production of mezcal requires a lot of money. However, there was only one first payment, despite the commitment that was made in advance,” she explained.
The first payment, she explained, was 40 thousand pesos, which translated into half an oven, while Valentina and her husband were left in debt with the payment of the workers and the firewood.
After producing the first thousand liters, the woman asked for a bottling plant to be established, for which the couple acquired a second debt, so that the production of containers would be adjusted to the buyer’s taste.
After setting various conditions such as lowering the mezcal from 44 to 38 degrees, as well as other requests for export, the first delivery was ready, however, little by little, communication became scarcer, blaming Valentina for having trusted her, and the woman even asked for the advance payment back.
“I told her: the one who committed the fraud was you, I complied with everything you asked me for,” she says.
After that, the woman began a campaign to discredit the producer, accusing her of not dedicating herself to the production of mezcal and questioning her knowledge.
In addition to that, Valentina suffered threats from the woman, for that reason, she fears reprisals against her.
However, the date to pay the debt is approaching. In response, Valentina has made bulk mezcal available to the public, which can be purchased by calling 951 4684767. Those interested in buying should write or call this number to purchase liters of espadín mezcal, starting at 200 pesos, ensambled at 500 and tepextate at 600.
Source: es-us.noticias.yahoo
