Mexico's worst drought in 71 years. This year, Mr. Leon could only irrigate half of what he usually does, meaning his water-dependent onions suffered: The harvest was a fifth of what it usually is, the lowest ever.

"We are not alone," says Leon. "All of us are experiencing low harvests." Food production has gone down by 40 percent across Mexico because of the drought, according to the National Confederation of Peasants.