The Return of the Canasta

LOT: How would you describe what Gente Viva offers?

Naomi: Healthy soil plus healthy water equals healthy food and healthy people. At Gente Viva, we believe that food is medicine and that healthy food production leads to healthy communities. We grow fresh, clean, nutrient-rich food while regenerating the soil through permaculture, agroforestry and organic farming practices. Our greater purpose goes beyond growing food: we aim to regenerate our local ecosystem and strengthen our community through agriculture, connecting people with the land, the farmers, and the food that nourishes them.

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LOT: How long has Gente Viva been around?

Naomi: Our agricultural project has been growing for 15 years, evolving from Playa Viva’s permaculture farm into the budding food hub we aspire to be today. About four years ago, we began expanding our community programs, and two years ago we established Gente Viva as its own identity, with a dedicated team of farmers and designers.

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LOT: How did it come to be?

Naomi: The story of Gente Viva began with Playa Viva, a regenerative eco-luxury hotel south of Zihuatanejo. Playa Viva was built around the belief that hospitality can actively restore the environment and benefit surrounding communities. From the beginning, the farm-to-table philosophy was central to Playa Viva’s vision. A permaculture farm was established to provide the hotel’s kitchen with fresh, organic ingredients while demonstrating how agriculture could work in harmony with nature.

Eight years ago, Amanda Harris, our Permaculture Manager, joined the project and helped expand both its agricultural production and educational impact. The farm became more than a place to grow food: it became a living classroom where local community members could learn organic farming, permaculture, and regenerative practices through hands-on work, workshops and training. Over time, this knowledge spread throughout our watershed, inspiring more farmers to adopt environmentally responsible growing methods. As production increased, we realized that our harvests, and those of our growing network of farmers, had the potential to nourish many more tables beyond the hotel.

That idea inspired us to reach out to local restaurants, hotels and households, and led to our creating Canasta Viva, our weekly organic produce basket. Gente Viva is a regular participant at the Ecotianguis Sanka farmers market in Zihuatanejo, and we collaborate with chefs in Zihuatanejo, providing specific menu items. Over the past year, we discovered that one of our greatest strengths is the community that has formed around our canastas. These are people who recognize the value of food goes far beyond its appearance or price. They care about the hands that grow it, the soil it comes from, and the positive impact their choices are creating. Today, Canasta Viva and the farmers market are at the heart of Gente Viva’s effort to build a stronger, healthier and more connected local food system.

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LOT: What’s typically in a canasta?

Naomi: A colorful selection of fresh, seasonal, locally-grown produce harvested from our farm and from our network of partner farmers. The exact selection changes every week, depending on what the land is offering. Eating seasonally is part of the experience. A “typical” Traditional Canasta includes:

• About 500 grams of leafy greens—different kales, spinach and lettuce

• Two or three fresh herbs, which may include basil, mint, cilantro, parsley or dill

• About three kilos of seasonal fruits and vegetables—papaya, starfruit and limes; tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh corn

• Fresh sprouts—one of our community’s all-time favorites

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LOT: How many people does a basket feed?

Naomi: We offer three options to suit different households and preferences. The Traditional Canasta feeds about two to three people, providing a generous selection of greens, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and sprouts for the week. The Individual Canasta is a smaller selection, ideal for one person. And the Only Greens Canasta is perfect for people who love leafy greens and want a reliable source of fresh, clean, local kales, chard and lettuce. Of course, how long a basket lasts depends on how much fresh produce you enjoy.

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LOT: What do they cost?

Naomi: The Traditional Canasta is $700 MXN. The Individual Canasta is $550 MXN. The Only Greens Canasta is $400 MXN. Each basket is more than fresh, organic produce. It’s a direct investment in local farmers and regenerative agriculture.

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LOT: How does someone sign up?

Naomi: It’s very simple. Join our Canasta Viva WhatsApp group [link provided at the end]. Every Monday, we share a poll with the available canasta options for that week. Simply select your preferred basket and we’ll have it ready and delivered on Wednesday.

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LOT: Can you get the canastas week-to-week, or is it a committed subscription?

Naomi: Our current program is completely flexible. There’s no subscription or long-term commitment required—you order whenever it works for you by participating in our weekly WhatsApp poll. We are exploring a subscription model, which would let our community support farmers at the beginning of the growing season, sharing both the investment and the risks of agriculture, while enjoying a regular supply of fresh, local produce.

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LOT: Can the subscription be shared among friends—that they rotate in and out?

Naomi: Yes. Since Canasta Viva is based on weekly orders, friends and families are welcome to coordinate, share baskets or take turns ordering. We love seeing our community find creative ways to enjoy and share local food.

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LOT: Where and when can people pick them up?

Naomi: Canastas are prepared fresh each week and brought to our community pickup point every Wednesday. This season, we’re excited to partner with La Onda Troncones, which is hosting our pickups at its office, every Wednesday from 12:30 to 2 pm. For now, that’s the only pickup location in the region. We don’t have one in La Saladita at the moment.

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LOT: What difference does the program make locally and on the farm?

Naomi: We believe food is one of the most powerful ways to create positive change in our communities. When we buy food at a supermarket, we know very little about its journey—who planted it, who harvested it, how it was grown or how far it traveled before reaching our plates. Canasta Viva offers a different relationship with food—one built on transparency, trust and connection.

Our produce is grown within roughly 70 to 100 kilometers of Zihuatanejo, which means a shorter supply chain. It also keeps more economic value in the region. Every canasta directly supports our farm and small-scale farmers who grow clean, healthy food while caring for the land and the watershed. On the farm, that support lets us keep investing in regenerative practices that build soil fertility, encourage biodiversity and restore our ecosystem. It also helps sustain a network of farmers who are working toward a different agricultural future.

But perhaps most importantly, Canasta Viva is helping reconnect people to the origins of their food. It reminds us that our everyday choices have an impact, not only on our own health but also on the livelihoods of local families and the wellbeing of the land we all share.

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LINKS

Canasta Viva WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JcEXpI1YsHb4C2XqPl52cE

Gente Viva Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genteviva_permacultura

Amanda Harris: https://www.laondatroncones.com/meet/amanda-harris-organic-farmer