“Nature’s Green Delight”

When persons think about food in commercial zones, they tend to think about local food shacks, multinational outlets and even the grocery store. However, little thought goes into the presence of “markets” in Trinidad. This is a very crucial aspect in the commercial zone although much prominence is not places on it. But if you think about it, without the market place we basically would have a limited supply of fresh produce.

I can distinctly remember my Saturday morning trips to the local market in my home city, a memory that most of us can relate to. Waking up at the crack of dawn, getting dressed and then taking a long calming walk to the market place, Taking in the sites around you, breathing in the fresh-cool morning air and not the mention gazing at all the other women and their kids also making their way to stock up for the upcoming week.

Shown in the image is the local market found in the Arima city center.  A vast variety of fruits are displayed in the image that is typical of local markets in urban areas in Trinidad. The markets also sell vegetables and various meet and fish produce.

These markets are dominant in almost all urban cities in Trinidad such as the ones in Arima, Tunapuna, Port of Spain, Valenica, Sangre Grande and Chauguanas just to name a few. These are very important to the communities in those specified areas as the lead to various economic and social benefits.

The following video highlights the typical scene of a local market in Trinidad:  

  

Firstly, it is seen that the “market place” has an economic advantage to the city area. This is as persons in the market sells produce such as vegetables, fruits and various types of fishes and local goodies. These when sold not only generate income for the local farmers that grow and sell them but also to the city as the farmers usually have to pay a monthly tax or rent for the area in the market that they utilize. This rent is usually $25 a day to use the counters and shed provided.

Secondly, the “market place” also has a social benefit to the urban city center as well as the commercial zone. This is as the market serves as a social setting where persons meet and greet on a day to day basis (Stuever 2011). Persons are able to talk about what’s going in their life, their future goals and to share childhood stories. According to Beth Stuever, a lecturer at the Michigan State University, Julia Darnton, states that, “Markets are anchored in community, connect people with each other and valued commodities, and creates opportunities for business.” (2011). Therefore, when markets maintain this warm, welcoming atmosphere business increases as persons would always come back for more as they enjoyed the service. Also, persons tend to frequent a place more often when they get to interact closely with the persons who actually produce the food (Stuever 2011) that they are buying as compared to just buying it off a shelf in a store. 

Characteristics of the “Market Place”:

The markets in Trinidad are seen to be public spaces that sell their goods which include fruits, vegetables, local treats and sea food products on a daily basis. They are seen to be open areas with tables and covered passages. You can drop by at any time of the day including nights to get what you need. This makes them very convenient to the people as well as accessible as they are located close to the city center in the commercial zones. 

Many persons prefer to go the market place as they only sell fresh produce. The fruits and vegetables are picked the day before or even in the same morning just like the various sea foods that they sell. This is as the farms or areas where the farmers grow their produce are located close by. This ensures that the nutrient value is not lowered as they have shorter distances to travel on a daily basis (Economy Watch 2010).

The following link shows some of the fruits and vegetables that can be found in local markets in Trinidad: http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Collections/ExhibitionsandPhotoGalleries/TrinidadandTobagoMarketplacePhotoGallery

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 Linked to this is the fact that farmers at these local markets only sell produce that are locally grown (ibid). This is very beneficial to the economy as it promotes local foods as well as generates income that stays in the country.

Likewise, as the produce sold in markets are locally produced this allows local heritage to be transmitted. Local markets in terms of what the farmers grow and sell are based on cultural traditions passed down to them from generation to generation. These are usually done when their parents planted crops for sale and then they took over the family business. By taking over the family business family as well as local “trini” traditions are transmitted in the choice of crops grown, the method used and how the land is cared for.

The following article shows the creation of new markets in Trinidad: http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,77357.html

Conclusion:

            Thus, it is seen that the market place is very dynamic space in urban city centers as well as in commercial zones. They are social institutions that are embodied in particular times, places and relationships (Robert J.Shepherd). It also enhances the urban view (ibid) as well as provides both a social and economic function to the functioning of the city as well as to the people in the commercial zones.

            The market places acts as an open forum whereby persons socialize and communicate with each other while purchasing fresh produce. They are seen to have a high convenience and accessibility to person in the urban commercial zones and are seen as a major driver whereby local heritage is learnt and transferred.

          

  To me, the market place culture or the essence of the local markets are important aspects of urban commercial zones. It represents the life line of human beings as it produces food as well as promotes local culture and heritage which I see as a very very positive aspect of the market place. I enjoy visiting my local markets and taking part in one of Trinidadians major cultural traditions.

References:

Stuever, Beth. "Farmers markets are important part of the community for economic, social and environmental vitality | ANR Communications." 2011. http://www.anrcom.msu.edu/anrcom/news/item/farmers_markets_are_important (accessed 2nd Apr 2014).

CSO. 1991. "Trinidad and Tobago: An Agricultural Sector Study of Tobago." Tobago: Tobago House of Assembly.

Economywatch.com. "Farmer Market and Characteristics | Economy Watch." 2010. http://www.economywatch.com/market/market-types/farmers-market.html (accessed 3 Apr 2014).

Shepherd, Robert J. When culture goes to market. New York: Peter Lang, 2008.