Where is it? Salvador Urbina is located in the southern most state in Mexico, Chiapas, which shares a border with the country of Guatemala.

Located near the city of Tapachula in the southern tip of Chiapas.
Salvador Urbina is a community of about 7,000 people. Urbina, (as the locals refer to it) has been a community of coffee growers for several generations.

Coffee was introduced into Mexico in the late 1700's. Workers from nearby German-owned coffee fincas settled into the village of Salvador Urbina in the mid 1800's and began purchasing plots of land suitable for coffee production. When the big fincas were overthrown/liberated in the early part of the 1900's, the production of the small producers became more important. Initially Urbina residents sold their coffee to local brokers who in turn sold to the major coffee firms around the world.

In the coffee markets of today, the small independent growers still sell to the brokers, but now the brokers represent multinational companies that are coordinated to drive prices down and quantities up. The market for organic, shade tree grown coffees had almost vanished until recently. The large multinational coffee conglomerates are always trying to drive the prices to the farmers down and the prices that the consumer pays up.

Today's Urbina is still largely a residential area for coffee producers. Although electricity has been there for almost 20 years, residential telephone lines are yet to arrive. There are two public phones that messages can be left at. The small community is also dealing with some of the same issues that small rural communities in the US are also struggling with, infrastructure capacity, improved educational opportunities for the youth, and environmental controls and legislation.

A typical family home would not include running water or a refrigerator. Water is available in a separate small structure that is used for cleaning dishes and clothes. An outdoor water closet (toilet) is generally close by. Windows do not have screens and heating when needed is provided by a wood burning cook stove in the kitchen. Electric power is used for lights and a small stereo cassette/CD player. More established families have coffee bean drying patios for the coffee harvest season.

Bicycles, taxis, and busses provide for transportation depending on the distance and urgency. Chickens and other small livestock are kept handy. Small stores carry candy and snacks, toilet paper and cooking oil, fruits and vegetables, eggs and cheese.

Many folks raise their own fruits and vegetables and trade is quite common. Shopping for appliances, furniture, technology and most construction materials is done in Tapachula, about 10 miles away down the mountain.

More than 1000 young people have left to find better paying work either on the US/Mexico border, or in the US from Miami to Portland and Boston to Los Angeles. Over 50 families are represented in Agua Prieta and three families worship in the Lily of the Valley Presbyterian Church in Agua Prieta.

The opportunities for employment in Urbina are very limited, and the wages are low, often less than $0.50 per hour. Even the jobs in the larger cities pay poorly. Cash from family members working abroad is one of the largest sources on money coming into Mexico and Urbina is no exception.

As one walks through the streets of Urbina, it is possible to tell which families are receiving money from relatives working in the US by the homes. The families receiving money generally have better siding, roofing and windows on their homes. The children are wearing newer used clothes and a few more lights can be seen glowing in the rooms in the evenings.