MEXICO - Strawberry growers are asking for help from Michoacan state leader Silvano Aureoles Conejo and the local Congress, alleging they have fallen victim to an international fraudulent scam.

Those that were affected had to put up their combined properties valued at 400 million pesos (about $22 million), plus default interest to bring the case to court, according to news source La Voz de Michoacan, and are seeking aid from legislation to revisit the issue.

The producers said that in 2013 they came to the realization that they had “received credit” from a Guadalajara, Jalisco-based company for finances they never applied for or received, affecting their credit negatively. While the report did not say how bad the impacts were, the company growers named responsible had also allegedly allocated resources to other local fruit companies without ever actually providing funds, according to the source.

When brought to court in 2014, the judge ruled against the growers, finding insufficient evidence. Now the producers are imploring Governor Conejo to intervene on the matter, as the group had to put up their combined properties and are looking to help save not only their land and production, but their reputations as well.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report as this story develops.