In an effort to strengthen the connection between local producers and the community, the Department of Santa Rosa served as the setting for a vibrant market where Aruba’s primary sector was placed in the spotlight. Under the theme “from farmer to community,” the pro-farmer commission, Grupo Nos Tera, presented a wide variety of fresh and local products. In addition, other farmers also reinforced the Santa Rosa Market, which serves as a market for the people of Aruba.
Visitors were able to find a diverse selection covering basic food needs. Among the highlighted products were:
- Local protein: Fresh meat, fish, and eggs of the highest quality from our island.
- Agriculture: A variety of the best locally grown vegetables.
- Complementary products: Different producers joined together to offer items that complement the daily diet of the Aruban consumer.
Santa Rosa: More Than Just a Market
According to representatives of Grupo Nos Tera, including Jair Britten, President of the Aruban Pro-Farmers and owner of Cunucu Calabas, this initiative goes far beyond selling products; it is a fundamental platform for awareness. As a fifth-generation farmer, he emphasized the importance of addressing topics such as food security and Aruba’s agro-cultural heritage.
“This is authentic island life. In the context of 40 years of Status Aparte, we must reflect on what we have done to protect our primary sector,” the farmer stated.
A Future of Growth
The public’s response was extremely positive. Thanks to the use of social media, interest in local products is rising rapidly (“skyrocketing”). Customers are not only looking for products of the highest quality, but they are also requesting more frequent availability and presence of farmers within the community.
Farmers must unite more and work together toward one goal: producing quality products from our own land and selling them to the community, so that our local people can have healthy food on their tables.
