Colombian coffee growers threaten to sue U.S. cartoonist

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The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia threatens to sue ‘Mother Goose & Grimm’ cartoonist Mike Peters, after the publication of a cartoon strip that the group claims ‘attacks the national dignity and the reputation of coffee from Colombia’ by linking organized crime and coffee, according to the Associated Press.

In the comic strip, which you can see here, a character says: ‘Y’know, there’s a big crime syndicate in Colombia. So when they say there’s a little bit of Juan Valdez in every can, maybe they’re not kidding.’ The joke plays off a former marketing slogan used by the federation, AP says.

Juan Valdez is a fictional character that has appeared in advertisements for the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia since 1959, representing the Colombian coffee farmer.

The lawsuit against Peters will reportedly be filed tomorrow and seek at least $20 million in damages, as well as demand a retraction from any newspaper that published the Jan. 2 cartoon.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City