June 4, 2018 – It isn’t often a business can actually come from the trash heap unless it is an enterprise focused on recycling. The Mesquite tree has been deemed a nuisance for the past several decades as more vacant land is developed. In times past, the Mesquite tree “beans” were a vital food staple for wildlife, livestock and the indigenous peoples of the Southwest, especially during years of drought — interestingly, the sparser the precipitation, the more beans produced during a year. The sweet, nutty-flavored bean was harvested, toasted over an open fire then ground into meal and added to dried meats for protein and supplement nutrition. Dried beans were used to add protein to the grass fed livestock. Over the years, there were many research studies conducted with various chemicals to eliminate the “water wasting” native species, yet the plants continue to survive and thrive.
Victoria Barrera Cappadona always loved for her father and father in law to tell stories about the old ranching days when the Rio Grande Valley was a real frontier and how things changed over the years. Tales included how the droughts were survived and how the Lord provided his “mana” from heaven, the lowly Mesquite Bean. Being truly intrigued, Victoria began to search for recipes that included Mesquite as an ingredient and found she had all she needed to make Mesquite Bean Jelly, and as you will find, the rest is history in the making. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, she not only began to make the jelly, but she also improved, improvised and perfected the recipes, and she set on a quest to share the fruits of her labor with South Texas and the World. With guidance from the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and others, Victoria was able to showcase her products as well as apply for regional economic development grants to aid in promotions and received accolades everywhere she went. An opportunity arose in her participation in the USDA Value Added Program, harvesting beans grown on the ranch and adding value by processing into jelly.
PVAMU Extension Agent, Phyllis Varnon was introduced to Mrs. Cappadona during a product showcase at the District 12 Extension Headquarters. During a short conversation and sharing possibilities available, such as the Texas Department of Agriculture, GO Texan Marketing Program, State Fair of Texas, San Antonio and Houston Livestock Shows, both participants departed feeling confident of a real successful enterprise. Rio Grande Mesquite (RGM), LLC was soon established and in operation, full steam ahead.
Ronnie Zamora, ANR Agent in Willacy County, shared some of the successes enjoyed by RGM, LLC during the 2017 PVAMU Extension Program Planning Conference. He also mentioned she would like to consult with CED Staff about expanding her product line. After numerous calls, video conferences and an onsite meeting which included an ANR Agent, FCH Agents, and a representative from the Governor’s Office, exciting ideas became new products hitting the market which included, tea, flour, and coffee. A new VAPG proposal was submitted and RGM, LLC has been highlighted in numerous publications such as the Texas Coop Magazines, GO Texan e-zine, Southwest Farm Press and, in the very near future, a feature story is being scheduled with “Texas Country Reporter.” During the late summer harvest of beans, a huge “pachanga” is planned to include stakeholders from around the state. Stay tuned.
This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 1890 Extension Formula Program projects under Section 1444.
Phyllis R. Varnon
Community and Economic Development Zavala, Dimmit and Uvalde Counties Extension Agent
(830) 374-2883
prvarnon@pvamu.edu