Mexico announces new food plan that could take the country back to the 1980s

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced an agriculture plan Tuesday that could make food production and distribution in the country like it was in the 1980s, when meals in Mexico were dominated by tortillas, beans, instant coffee and cheap hot chocolate. Four decades ago, the ingredients for those foods were often purchased at government stores that stocked a few basic products. President Sheinbaum vowed Tuesday to revive those often dilapidated and limited-stock government stores and continue efforts to achieve “food sovereignty.” “It’s producing what we consume,” Sheinbaum said of the policy, whose main focus will be increasing the production of beans and corn. Sheinbaum appears to have a deep interest in boosting bean production and consumption. On Monday, she said it’s “much better to eat a taco of beans than a bag of potatoes.” Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said the focus will be on guaranteeing prices for farmers who grow the corn used ...