This organic market was launched 17 years ago thanks to producers and consumers in the Guadalhorce Valley, who formed an association to promote eco-markets. There are a total of nine such markets in the province, one of which takes place on the second and last Sunday of each month on the boulevard in La Cala de Mijas, from 9 to 14 hours. Its objectives are to promote organic production and consumption, offer training on agriculture and healthy nutrition, and provide advice on organic certification.

 

The La Cala de Mijas market comprises a total of 13 permanent stalls run by producers from municipalities such as Pizarra, Alozaina and Coín, and they assure that the food is of the highest quality, as emphasised by the coordinator of the Guadalhorce Ecológico Association, Ana Jiménez, “because everything is harvested on Friday and we hold the markets on Saturday and Sunday, the rest of the week, the producers work on their farms, tending the land and sowing, to prepare for the weekend market”.

 

The market offers a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, but you can also buy eggs, oil, cheese, honey and bread, all with organic certification. These products stand out for several reasons, not all related to taste. “People from the countryside who visit and try the products often say, ‘it reminds me of my father, of my childhood’, because these products come directly from the land to the market, to your kitchen”, Jiménez explained.

 

One example is Bio Vega de Los Ríos, which specialises in growing leafy green products. Its shopkeeper, Aaron Salleras, said that one of the best-selling products, especially in summer, is basil, but added that they will soon start selling arugula, escarole and other types of lettuce.

Salleras says that customers tend to be loyal: “We have a lot of customers who come to see us every week, no matter where we are”. One of the regulars at this eco-market is Teo Fernández, who confirmed this: “The truth is that we’ve been coming here for a long time and we’re very happy”.

 

Among the reasons for returning, Ana Sánchez highlighted “above all, the quality and the fact that they are local producers; I usually buy figs, eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, aubergines, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers... a little bit of everything”.

The benefits are noticeable both for the body and wallet, according to customers such as Ann Beckham, who said that “the products are healthy and the prices are affordable”. Beatriz Martín, pointed out that “there isn’t much difference compared to supermarkets or markets selling non-organic products”.

 

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