The Transformative Power of Community: Jacqueline Castillo’s Story
In the heart of Tomatlán, Mexico, a municipality whose name means “among tomatoes” in Nahuatl, a group of farmers unite around a shared dream. These producers work tirelessly to grow as an agribusiness and leave a lasting legacy for their families.
Bringing Dreams to Fruition
Jacqueline Castillo is the president of an agribusiness in Tomatlán, Mexico. She has dedicated her life to helping other farmers in her community make their dreams a reality.
Before, Jacqueline was a teacher and secretary. However, these jobs did not provide the necessary income to support her family. Her journey in agriculture began while she was pregnant and searching for a more reliable source of income. Soon, she started growing tomatoes, ultimately leading her to become the leader and president of Uelitini Tonatiuteotl, a tomato agribusiness in Tomatlán.
In time, her husband, who was in the United States, joined the dream of establishing an agribusiness and returned to learn and support Jacqueline in this endeavor.
“My husband returned from the United States and now helps me in the field,” she shared. “Along with other producers and my other daughter, we are working hard to grow even more.”
A New Path to Growth
Jacqueline found a path to growth through the Pequeño Productor Program, created and led by Walmart Foundation Mexico and implemented by TechnoServe. In 2016, the Pequeño Productor Program arrived in the area with TechnoServe to support farmers with agronomic and business advice. Since then, Jacqueline has actively participated in all training sessions and encouraged other men and women to join the project. Collectively, they have implemented regenerative practices in their fields and formalized their agribusiness to sell to formal markets.
Jacqueline’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and family and community collaboration. She is a tireless promoter, working hard to get more producers to join the program. What began as a modest 1,500-square-meter project of a saladette tomato greenhouse has transformed into a formal agribusiness comprising 54 producers and covering 10,000 square meters of production.
Critical Milestones for a Tomato Agribusiness
By 2020, the group of producers linked to the program achieved their first formal commercial transaction with Walmart Mexico, selling a total of 239 tons of tomatoes. At that time, the group did not have a sorting machine, so each shipment was done manually.
By 2022, the group sold 98 trailers of tomatoes, totaling 1,562 tons. This success allowed them to acquire their own sorting machine, saving time and energy. That same year, Walmart Mexico awarded the group the Pequeño Productor Supplier of the Year award.
“Jacqueline’s story is proof of the impact that the program has in the field and how imparting knowledge drives sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices to contribute to social and agribusiness development,” explained Daniela Bergmann, Deputy Director of TechnoServe Mexico.
Transforming Lives Through Regenerative Production
Jacqueline’s journey and the Tomatlán community are examples of how collaboration and commitment can transform lives. It is a powerful illustration of how Mexican farmland is full of extraordinary individuals who give their all to grow crops, move forward, and generate positive change in their communities and families.
This is just one of the many success stories being built daily in the Pequeño Productor Program. To date, the program has trained more than 32,000 smallholder Mexican farmers. As a result, farmers have achieved over $170 million (2,900 million pesos) in sales of fruits and vegetables to Walmart Mexico in 22 states. With the training offered by TechnoServe experts, farmers have also transformed more than 60,000 hectares into regenerative production.
