Fascinating stuff! I knew about Mennonites in Yucatan and the problems resulting in their negligent use of pesticides, deforestation and also, apparently, their pig farming which results in harmful soil contaminats - all in dangerously close proximity to Maya beekeeping and sustainable farms. The Maya, I believe, are filing lawsuits. Wow, the cartel connection is shocking! And the Canada connection equally shocking! Last trip to Merida, some Mennonites showed up at an outdoor danza event, positioned themselves at the front of the standing audience, their large frames, overalls and straw hats looking quite out of place (just saying) and, dang it, blocked our view! Really looking forward to Part 2. Great insights!
Thanks so much, Barbra! It is a fascinating weird story! All of it! Even how they got to Mexico. A lot of luck was involved on that first part. Thanks for reading. Yes, the bees, so very very sad. I may have to do a Part 3 and go strictly into the environmental aspects more, along with their illegal logging. Saludos!
I lived for a couple of years in an area of Ontario (Canada) that had a significant Mennonite population, the kind of place you'd often see a horse and buggy in the parking lot of your local hardware store. Let's just say not everybody around there loves the Mennonites.
Wow, to echo Mikel Miller! What a "bonkers" situation. My father's family is from Virginia and when we visited the Catholic church in the small town of Stanley, VA, a family of Mennonites also attended. They were neither fish nor fowl, living in the Mennonite community and eschewing modern cars, etc., but were practicing Catholics. From that experience, I had the impression of a community starting to erode although the Pennsylvania Dutch remained a pillar of the Mennonite lifestyle. I certainly never knew the group was in Mexico.
We first encountered them as mentioned in downtown Cancun, selling the cheese wheels. Everyone asked about them, and it was only much later that I’ve figured out how they came to be in Yucatan. Now I am assuming they traveled FROM Campeche to sell the cheese, and did not live in QRoo.
Hola Mikel, yes, I was surprised too. Part 2 goes into the cartel connection more extensively - there is just so much to write I wanted to break into two parts. I think in the US, especially northeast where there are many Mennonites, people assume they are like the Amish.
I had no idea that the Mennonites would deforest their land, dump toxic poisons on it, and involve themselves in the drug trade! How can people who ostensibly live so simply while eschewing electricity, cars and other trappings of the modern world have so wholeheartedly adopted some of the worst aspects of it? No wonder the border agents had a hard time accepting the fact that Mennonites were major players in the Mexican-American drug trade.
I am really looking forward to your next installment to learn more.
Thanks for restack @Harley King
Fascinating stuff! I knew about Mennonites in Yucatan and the problems resulting in their negligent use of pesticides, deforestation and also, apparently, their pig farming which results in harmful soil contaminats - all in dangerously close proximity to Maya beekeeping and sustainable farms. The Maya, I believe, are filing lawsuits. Wow, the cartel connection is shocking! And the Canada connection equally shocking! Last trip to Merida, some Mennonites showed up at an outdoor danza event, positioned themselves at the front of the standing audience, their large frames, overalls and straw hats looking quite out of place (just saying) and, dang it, blocked our view! Really looking forward to Part 2. Great insights!
Thanks so much, Barbra! It is a fascinating weird story! All of it! Even how they got to Mexico. A lot of luck was involved on that first part. Thanks for reading. Yes, the bees, so very very sad. I may have to do a Part 3 and go strictly into the environmental aspects more, along with their illegal logging. Saludos!
The things people get away with under a cloak of piety, never cease to amaze. Read on!
I lived for a couple of years in an area of Ontario (Canada) that had a significant Mennonite population, the kind of place you'd often see a horse and buggy in the parking lot of your local hardware store. Let's just say not everybody around there loves the Mennonites.
I had no idea about this till I saw something a year or 2 ago and then—it did sound like a telenovela! and Canada decided to capitalize on it.
Oh, wow. We see these guys all the time, doing exactly what you describe. I had no idea about the cartel connection. Clearly, I'm not alone.
What a fascinating story. Can't wait for part two.
It’s not widely talked or written about, even now. Pretty amazing though.
Wow, to echo Mikel Miller! What a "bonkers" situation. My father's family is from Virginia and when we visited the Catholic church in the small town of Stanley, VA, a family of Mennonites also attended. They were neither fish nor fowl, living in the Mennonite community and eschewing modern cars, etc., but were practicing Catholics. From that experience, I had the impression of a community starting to erode although the Pennsylvania Dutch remained a pillar of the Mennonite lifestyle. I certainly never knew the group was in Mexico.
We first encountered them as mentioned in downtown Cancun, selling the cheese wheels. Everyone asked about them, and it was only much later that I’ve figured out how they came to be in Yucatan. Now I am assuming they traveled FROM Campeche to sell the cheese, and did not live in QRoo.
Wow, Jeanine, this is almost incredible. I never knew about the population in Mexico, and I'm surprised at the cartel connection. My only (limited) knowledge of Mennonites was from Pennsylvania, where I accompanied my second son on a day trip when he was in second grade in Maryland. See https://www.google.com/search?q=mennonite+in+pennsylvania+history&rlz=1C1EXJR_enMX904MX904&oq=mennonites+in+penn&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgDEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyBwgBEAAYgAQyCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIICAcQABgWGB4yCAgIEAAYFhgeMggICRAAGBYYHtIBCTE0NjA4ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Hola Mikel, yes, I was surprised too. Part 2 goes into the cartel connection more extensively - there is just so much to write I wanted to break into two parts. I think in the US, especially northeast where there are many Mennonites, people assume they are like the Amish.
Keep bursting their bubbles.
Fascinating story, and yet another that I knew nothing about. Good insights.
Thanks Jennifer. I was shocked when I first heard about it. Pretty amazing.
Thanks for restack @Dickerson Designs.
This article is mindboggling to me, Jeanine.
I had no idea that the Mennonites would deforest their land, dump toxic poisons on it, and involve themselves in the drug trade! How can people who ostensibly live so simply while eschewing electricity, cars and other trappings of the modern world have so wholeheartedly adopted some of the worst aspects of it? No wonder the border agents had a hard time accepting the fact that Mennonites were major players in the Mexican-American drug trade.
I am really looking forward to your next installment to learn more.