Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, Mexico — a 32-state federation member with 570 municipalities
The mezcal surge has expanded production from 1 million liters in 2010 to over 11 million in 2024, concentrated in Oaxaca. Producers face forest loss, soil erosion and water-use pressures as industrial brands enter the market and environmental costs rise alongside livelihoods.
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that trees in cities like New York and Philadelphia start pollen production earlier and finish later due to light pollution, potentially extending the allergy season by up to 130 days; the effect is linked to plants using day length cues for flowering and leaf-out.
Cristina has formed in the Eastern Pacific with 45 mph winds, guiding heavy rainfall across Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Boris is approaching Mexico’s Pacific coast with 40 mph winds, threatening flash floods and mudslides in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Forecasters warn landfalls and life-threatening weather this week.