Tortillas in Turmoil: Strengthening the "Missing Middle" in Honduras

The “missing middle” in Honduras has more to lose than other businesses in the face of the recent political upheaval.  For example, micro-businesses that make tortillas and do not maintain high quality and health standards continue to sell in small quantities to their neighborhoods. Large producers continue to package their tortillas and eventually sell them in supermarkets thanks to preservatives and increased shelf life; however, the medium sized producers have to maintain costly standards while not yet receiving all the benefits from large production volumes.

One of these “missing middle” businesses is owned by Sebastiana Caceres, who has produced and sold tortillas for more than ten years.  What began as a survival activity has turned into a business that employs six youth women.

When Sebastiana’s husband lost his job, the tortilla business became their family’s only source of income. He helped his wife by bringing firewood and sacks of corn to the house and searching for new clients to stay ahead of the competition. Their tortillas, produced in apoor community on the edge of Tegucigalpa, are now sold to restaurants and vendors in markets.  Sebastiana has dreams of expanding her business to sell in supermarkets. Tortilla sales are constant because they are a staple of the Honduran diet.  The economic crisis did not affect their business. Tortilla sales actually increased as the price stabilized and begun to align with corn prices in Honduras.

Then the political crisis hit. 

The turmoil surrounding the removal of President Manuel Zelaya had a devastating effect on small businesses.  The restaurants that Sebastiana sold to have been closed at night due to government imposed curfews.  The markets where vendors sold their tortillas are not visited by as many shoppers because of fear of violent political protests.

The Partners Worldwide Honduran affiliate, Stewardship of Christian Ministries, supports Sebastiana and other small business in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  Your financial support of the work of Partners Worldwide in Honduras will be matched by an anonymous donor.  Please consider supporting financially and please commit to supporting them with your prayers.

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