The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce family celebrated with the farmers of Putumayo in Colombia.

On March 17th, the V National Chontaduro Fair 2022 took place in the municipality of Villagarzón. Here, the community joined together to celebrate the production and commercialization of this important and nutritious fruit. In a hard work to recover the lands lost to illicit crops after years of conflict, today, the department of Putumayo is developing a plan for the recovery of these lands around the production and marketing of this valuable food.

For this special celebration, the family of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce received a special invitation from Mayor José Andrés López Mu?oz, in order to strengthen the connections that will allow us to support the community in its process of commercialization and expansion of the Chontaduro. Although it is true that countless lands in the region have been recovered thanks to this, giving a new opportunity to the community and thousands of families who found here a new way to subsist, the department is now working to avoid overproduction. In this way, the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce has proposed to be a great ally of the farmers of Colombia to strengthen the processes of marketing and export of Chontaduro, preventing the farmer to be the one who loses on the way. Represented by our President Rebeca Forero, our Board Director Wilmer Girón, our International Relations Ambassador Jairo Correa and our Correspondent Marle Rendón, we went into Colombian lands to see first hand the hard work and the great commitment that this region is making today.

Once we were in the area, the big surprise was to realize the immense wealth that this region has, from the warmth of its people to the spectacular scenery it offers. From the first moment in the department of Putumayo we were welcomed by the mayor and his entire team, who accompanied us tirelessly throughout the festival. Later, we were received by the family of the Ecotourism Center Donde Se Oculta El Sol, a place that in every corner shows us the love and care taken by the same family and although it does not offer us a production of Chontaduro, it does offer us an unmissable tourism in the region with a typical gastronomy and a cabin to rest, also offering us spaces for walks in the middle of nature enjoying its great biodiversity and majestic places deep in the jungle such as waterfalls and more. It was there, for the first time in this trip, where we tasted that fruit so carefully of this land in its main presentation: with salt, honey and lemon.

And on March 17th, the V National Chontaduro Fair 2022 began. As part of the festival, we enjoyed countless activities ranging from the socialization of the production process and its wide variety of derivatives, to the celebration and coronation of the Chontaduro Queen. Accompanied by important people such as university professors and deans, scientists, local organizations, secretaries, farmers and more, the great Chontaduro seminar was held, where we were able to learn and explore all the benefits that this fruit brings to our health and its potential for the production of important derivatives. Here, in addition, the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce received an important certification of attendance and participation in the seminar. Another great visit was to the facilities of the production plant of Asocochon, one of the producer associations, where we were shown all the machinery with which the process and transformation of Chontaduro is carried out.

As in any fair, artistic and gastronomic demonstrations could not be missing, where for the first time we tasted derivatives such as butter, cakes, arequipe, mantecadas, mousse, lemonade, chicha, juices, arepas, yoghurt, wines and more, witnessing the versatility and potential of this product. Another unmissable event was the great parade starring our candidates for Queen, stilt walkers, the town's dance groups, the mayor's office and some guests from Valle del Cauca, the Latin Chamber family, the secretary of government and the governor's office, different Chontaduro associations, school bands and other organizations invited to this great celebration. Finally, more than 4,000 people witnessed during these 4 days of each of the activities and especially the grand coronation, which gave great satisfaction to the municipality of Villagarzón after learning that the winning queen would be from their own municipality. Among the invited artists was the orchestra of the National Army, giving us the opportunity to share even more closely with the community thanks to the songs performed by our Board Director, Wilmer Giron, and the choreography of our president Rebeca Forero.

On behalf of the entire family of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce and with our slogan always present "Uniting borders, strengthening communities", an important recognition was given to Mayor José Andrés López Mu?oz for all the work he does in the region, for making his lands known and achieving with them an expansion that goes beyond the economy for the entire community, recognizing the work of the farmer and how close we are to breaking borders. In addition to this, we were also able to recognize his entire work team, which did not neglect our stay for a single second, and on behalf of this work we recognized Marcela Arias, the mayor's secretary.

Once again we would like to thank the entire community for receiving us and allowing us to enter their productive lands, the Villagarzón mayor's office with all its work team, the Centro Ecoturístico Donde Se Oculta El Sol, the farmers of the region, the associations in charge of the production and commercialization of the Chontaduro, the restaurant "Sandwich Cubano", the Hotel Villa Caba?a, and more that we know that although we cannot name, we are immensely grateful to all of them, to the associations in charge of the production and commercialization of Chontaduro, to the restaurant "Sandwich Cubano", to the Hotel Villa Caba?a, and more that we know that although we cannot name, we are immensely grateful for their hospitality and accompaniment making our visit an unforgettable moment. We are excited to be part of this important work to strengthen commercial ties that benefit the economic development of the region and therefore the cultural growth and welfare of the community in general.

In short, in the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, we continue to invite you to know and be part of this family, to explore Villagarzón, Putumayo, to know all the richness and biodiversity it has to offer and more, to taste this delicious and nutritious fruit in its different presentations. Once and a thousand times more, Thank you!

Rebeca Forero

President.