Some things will never go extinct.
I doubt that when President Bush said corn derivative ethanol would be a good alternative to gasoline did he expect Mexican farmers to torch their own fields. As a result of Bush's statement, farmers have decided to scrap their agave fields for the much more fetching price of corn. And what, you may ask, is agave? It is the plant from which Tequila is derived.
So back to my previous statement: my prediction for the disavowed agave is that it will rise again. I don't think ethanol has taken the place of gasoline yet, which means this preemptive act on the part of these farmers could saturate the market with corn, which will thus drive the price back down, which will thus make it less profitable, and thus the farmers will replant with agave, which, due to the fact it has all but been driven to extinction will cause its prices to soar. Also, do we really think that all those drunkards out there will allow an entire species of alcohol to go out like the dinosaurs? Simplistic supply and demand.
Side note to help dissuade dissenters. There is always, though, the potential that people stop demanding Tequila and other things made from agave altogether, and considering corn is always a staple and the largest crop in the western hemisphere (literally, the Americas), there is still the possibility that these farmers were right all along. However, I am still going to play Devil's Advocate here and say nay to that. If corn were always more profitable, wouldn't they have made this change long ago? As the article says, they are going for what is most profitable now.
4 comments:
Hahah that was wise of them. Well, those who maintained their agave should cut GWB a big ass check for increasing their profit margin.
Well, I'm a college student so I suppose I have enough experience with the type of beverage in question under my belt and I say kill off the Blue Agave. All of them.
Why, you ask? Because tequila is crap. Worst hangovers you'll ever have in your life, tastes awful, and is the worst inebriated experience available. Someone care to provide a practical reason to keep it around?
I see a trend with Mexican alcoholic beverages: they suck. Corona tastes like water with a little bit of urine flavoring and color, and tequila is just bad all around. As an American, I think I can safely say that the only thing Mexican culture has going for it is Tecate. Well, that, and illegal immigration here.
Perhaps it is time to put down the Jose Cuervo and try a decent Tequila.
And, as an enlightened American, I would like to suggest that Mexico has a significant amount of culture to offer (outside of the realm of alcohol even).
True dat! Haha.
But seriously yes, I agree Debutante. We just don't often see a lot of it first hand. (debating on a hyphen there...)
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