La Fortaleza hosts ‘Urban Market’ event


Local farmers were given the chance to sell their products to public employees during and Urban Market event last week.
More than 20 farmers and culinary artisans were invited to La Fortaleza last week to take part in a special edition of the Economic Development Bank-sponsored Urban Market event intended to expose them to the requirements to become suppliers to the governor’s mansion.
“Our interest is to promote our culinary artisans and farmers become part of our long-term suppliers list,” First Lady Lucé Vela said during the event. “For the Governor it is very important that farmers have the opportunity to present their products and promote the purchasing of our local products.”
The Urban Market events have been taking place throughout the island since December 2009. Their mission is to generate awareness among consumers about home-grown products, EDB President Ivonne Otero said.
“This has been a project to support entrepreneurship that has entailed significant teamwork, but we have developed a brand that is recognized by everyone and which has yielded economic benefits for our farmers and gourmet artisans,” she added.
The Urban Market at La Fortaleza drew the participation of more than 200 public employees from the governor’s mansion, the State Department and the Tourism Company, who were able to purchase fresh products from 23 farmers and culinary artisans, who received orientation about how to sell their goods to La Fortaleza.
The EDB has sponsored 51 editions of the Urban Market event, which coupled with the Urban Bazar held at the Ventana al Mar in Condado, have generated close to $2 million in sales for participants, the agency said.