See how #Ford and @JoseCuervo work together to give excess agave a second chance as potential car parts. #FarmToCarhttps://t.co/OmvRv11dSj
— Ford Drive Green (@FordDriveGreen) July 19, 2016
In West Chester, we know to leave the tequila at home when we go for a drive -- but Ford Motor Company has recently begun a partnership with Jose Cuervo® that could put tequila byproducts in your new Ford vehicle.
The secret is agave.
Agave is an aloe-like plant that grows in the desert, taking up to 10 years or longer to mature. You might never have heard of it in the temperate northern climes of Pennsylvania, except that it has world-wide fame as the primary ingredient in tequila.
To make tequila, Jose Cuervo first roasts the agave plant, then presses them, just like you would press apples to make cider. The juices go on to be fermented and distilled, eventually making their way into your margarita. Everything else -- the skin, stems, and pulp -- have a less glamorous fate. They may be used to make paper, or are turned into fertilizer.
Ford has been including agricultural byproducts in its vehicles for almost a decade now, beginning with soy-based seat cushion foams that went into use in 2007. Since then, Ford has expanded its list of renewable "farm-to-car" materials. Currently, eight different sustainable materials are used in Ford production models. Agave fiber could be the next major environmental solution.
What else is Ford doing to improve its environmental impact? Visit Garnet Ford to learn more, and find out what you can do to drive greener!