El Remate Village Market
Ix-canaan volunteer Allison Haynes has succeeded in bringing together the people of El Remate in an organized market that is running every Sunday! Allison, shown here with Ruth who was at the market to sell live hens, spent weeks meeting with the local Women’s Groups, with local and municipal authorities, and with representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations active in the area. In the process, a Village Market Council was elected and general meetings were held to advise the residents.
The goal of the market is to create a weekly event that both tourists and Guatemalans will plan specifically to visit, thus providing an outlet for local crafts and garden produce as well as another attraction to bring more visitors to our area.
The first week began with 74 vendors of a huge variety of merchandise.
Shoppers could buy a big slice of Doña Juana’s famous Ramon Cake, a bottle of sugar cane juice or a chunk of freshly cut sugar cane to munch on while checking out the other vendors.
You could buy a partially peeled coconut with a straw … or your week’s vegetables.
Chicken sandwiches and delicious chiles rellenos with tortillas were available for immediate snacking or a take-home lunch.
The women of El Remate were out in force to sell their favourite dishes which included, as well as the above items, tostados with different toppings, soft tacos of chow mien, avocado or loroco, chipitos, french fries, rice and beans, burritos, quesadillas, pickled chiles, a huge variety of natural drinks and atoles, fruit ices, corn coffee, banana and carrot bread, coconut candies, and more!!
To round out the shopping experience, there was also lots of non-food items too … like jewelry, wood crafts, shampoos and cleansers, basketry, and clothing for women, men and children.
The Agencia Way came out from Santa Elena to sell large and small appliances.
And the AIDS Healthcare Foundation gave talks throughout the morning.
There was music and speeches throughout the day, and local dancers entertained the crowds late in the morning.
All agree that the Village Market IS A SUCCESS!!