Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

From the 1800s all of the untreated waste water.... yes, what they flush down the toilet, is left untreated and used to irrigate fields of vegetables. Many of these wind up on American's dinner plates. And those farmers are very angry... why, because a new water treatment plant is about to come on line.

"TEPATEPEC, Mexico (AP) - For more than 100 years, most of what gets flushed down Mexico City's toilets has resurfaced two hours to the north in the rivers and reservoirs of the rural Mezquital Valley. A massive new water treatment plant is about to change this.

But rather than welcoming the prospect of cleaner water, angry farmers are demanding the government honor an 1895 presidential decree granting them the right to the capital's untreated sewage, which they see as fertilizer-rich, if foul, irrigation water.

It's a standoff that pits public health concerns - not just for valley residents but for the Mexicans elsewhere who eat the crops - against fears that family farms will go under if they lose access to the raw sewage after the $530 million Atotonilco plant in Hidalgo state, billed as the largest of its kind in Latin America, goes online."

There is much more to this article: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35231878/in-mexico-fears-a-new-plant-will-kill-wastewater-farming

CounterRevolutionary

Does all of this pass NAFTA inspections?

"During wastewater flood irrigation, bacteria can contaminate low-lying crops and later invade consumers' digestive tracts if the produce is not disinfected or cooked. The World Health Organization says risks to consumers include increased rates of cholera, typhoid, diarrhea and roundworm infections...."

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Crops are harvested for all over Mexico and exported to the US. Have they truly been inspected, or paper inspected... There is a "rule" for produce bound for the US, Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) requires importers to ensure that their foreign suppliers meet U. S. safety standards. But, according to some farmers, the Mexican government does not perform inspections so it is up to the individual farmers to test their own crops. Fortunately, most of the vegies bound for the US are grown near Mexico City and not in the area discussed in my original post. Still some of those vegies do make their way into farmer's markets in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas... do they make their way into others, I do not know. Are all fruits (to include my favorite avocado) and vegies safe.... I sure hope so!

CounterRevolutionary

Yuck. Has NAFTA actually raised the standard of living for the Mexicans or any other Latino nation? Venezuela, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Columbia, Brazil have gone socialist and are collapsing economically since NAFTA. There was not a communist/socialist nation in Latin America, (outside of Cuba) when Reagan was president and we had no NAFTA.

We should not be trading with socialist nations, Asian, European, African or Latino. They only use the profits to arm their military, not feed their people. We are wasting our time, money and resources. Money will not buy freedom. It must be by their own volition. We can only lead by example.

bilordinary Loc: SW Washington

I agree totally! I stopped buying from Commiefornia a while back!

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

NAFTA, in my opinion, has lowered the standard of living. And trust me, you do not want me to dig out information on the fruits coming from South America...... in a word, worse than those farms in Mexico. Even Korea (who used to eat dogs off the streets) have pulled all beef and poultry raised in Brazil. Now that has to say something.

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

We have our own LARGE Garden for fresh veggies. Damned shame about things coming into the US from Mexico....makes you want to toss your cookies!

CounterRevolutionary

At this point, maybe the United States and the free world should reconsider our strategy in economic aid to socialist nations. After years of Détente with dictators and double standards, we have not improved the standard of living of Latin America by trading with them. NAFTA is a failure for them and us, a lose-lose scenario.

Socialism is slavery, and as matter of choice by these nations who willingly give up their freedom for security, they end up with neither. America should lead by example and leave these guys alone. Forced good or forced evil will make a weak person cry out in pain.

Roseland Loc: Florida

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Likewise, produce and fish from China are similarly grown in human waste. It was reported that Tilapia from China are raised on waters where human poops abounds. Tilapia loves that food.

Here is another problems with Mexico aside from their farm produce.
Massive sewage spill flows into US from Mexico
By Associated Press
February 25, 2017 | 3:01pm

The Tijuana River AP
LOS ANGELES — Officials in Southern California are crying foul after more than 140 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Tijuana River in Mexico and flowed north of the border for more than two weeks, according to a report.
The spill was caused Feb. 2 during rehabilitation of a sewage collector pipe and wasn’t contained until Thursday, the International Boundary and Water Commission said in its report released Friday. The river drains into the Pacific Ocean on the U.S. side.

Vegetables in Mexico are fertilized with human waste like that of China. Then they export them to the US, their biggest market consumers.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

WOW.... Now this gives me a better reason for keeping my garden in good shape and buying from local farmers. Thank for the info... It also makes one think about stocking ponds on your own property for fresh fish.....