It began with hearsay, a tale of an organic farmer on Stone Island growing Heirloom tomatoes for export. Once located, it turned out that grower Felix Velarde and Good Day Produce had more – much more – than just tomatoes. Fresh herbs, peppers, cucumbers, greens, tilapia – the list went on and on. And, he works with small farmers all over Mexico, helping them from co-ops, get organic certification, and sell in Mexico, Canada or the US.

Good Day’s story is just one of the many discovered by Janet Blaser and Veronica Rico as they set about forming the Mazatlán Farmers Market / Mercado Organico. Janet, who previously worked for several years in managerial positions with farmers markets in California and now publishes M! Magazine, and Veronica, director of Projecto Centro Historico and a lifelong resident of Mazatlán, organized a small volunteer committee this past summer. As word spread, growers began to appear, and suddenly pieces began to fall into place. Farmers are thrilled to have a place to sell their produce, and consumers are equally thrilled by the plethora of organic fruits, vegetables, dairy products, poultry, fish, flowers and more they’ll have access to. Both are eagerly awaiting the market’s opening day, set for Saturday, Jan. 7.

Farmers markets promote a healthy lifestyle by selling fresh, locally grown foods, certified organic or “transitional” (grown naturally without added hormones or pesticides) directly from the farmer to the consumer. Without the middle man, you’re guaranteed the freshest and most flavorful products available around.

Many people think the produce in the mercados is organic, or that the vendors are farmers, but that’s not usually the case. And while a small selection of organically grown produce is sometimes available in WalMart or Mega, it’s shipped from the US or other areas in Mexico. The Mazatlán Farmers Market carries locally grown produce, particularly from Stone Island and Barras de la Piaxtla, supplemented by some items from farms in southern Sonora and northern Nayarit. Vendors pay small weekly and annual fees and become members of the MFM/MMO. Part of the committee’s job is to visit the farms of prospective growers to ensure they’re farming organically or without sprays, hormones or pesticides.

So far, the dozen vendor/members of the MFM/MMO are offering Heirloom and other tomatoes, baby salad green mix, kale, spinach, herbs, Persian cucumbers, a variety of squash, raw milk, smoked marlin with no added coloring, onions, cucumbers, eggs, red, yellow and green bell peppers, limónes, dried mango and pineapple, chicken, a variety of fish, sesame seeds, jamaica, fresh and dried coconut, papaya, lettuce, honey and bee products, cut flowers, bamboo starts and flower bowls, coffee beans and more. A selection of natural prepared foods and organic packaged products from Mercado Verde and Molika Bakery will also be available.

We encourage you to come out to the Mazatlán Farmers’ Market / Mercado Organico and taste the difference yourself!

Comments

Zoesterone

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Can't wait to hear how this goes as it sounds wonderful. Best of luck with this endeavor!!

Monday 02 January 2012, 07:10

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