Uncultivated Foods in Southern Veracruz, Mexico: Establishing the Links between Ecosystem Health, Food Availability, and Human Nutrition

Uncultivated foods have received little attention in the scientific literature and nutrition programs of Mexico because they are usually seen as complementary to agricultural activities, i.e., corn planting and harvesting. Using an ecosystem approach to human health, this article examines the availability, nutritional contribution, and consumption patterns by gender and age of such foods in Ixhuapan and Ocozotepec, two native communities of southern Veracruz, Mexico. The research shows important differences between both communities. Ixhuapan has a more uniform environment and its people have opted for commercial activities and land parceling. Land use changes have led to a decrease in the number of people engaged in subsistence agriculture, environmental degradation, lower corn yields, and the loss of traditional, uncultivated foods. These changes have had a negative impact on the nutritional status of Ixhuapan children and adults, particularly women. Within each community, however, there are also important differences in terms of access to resources based on gender and age. Men catch game and large fish while women catch shrimp. Men gather seasonal plants in the forest while women gather wild weeds in the cornfields and spices in their backyards. Boys, more often than girls, obtain fruits from trees located in their backyard or the town’s public spaces. The article shows that women’s food resources are frequently consumed and constitute good sources of micronutrients.