THE DAVAO Tourism Association (DATA) pushed to institutionalize the operation of the farmers’ market at Sans Hotel at Luxebridge in the city.
Nicole Bian-Ledesma, Davao Tourism Association (DATA) president and Sans Hotel by Luxebridge CEO, said the group is in talks with the City Agricultural Office to extend the schedule since it was originally planned for the Kadayawan Festival.
The Organic Farmers’ Weekend opened to the public last Aug. 12 with more than ten vendors and is only open during weekends from Aug. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27.
Ledesma said that the regularization of the operation will benefit local farmers and help them display their fresh produce and generate more income.
“We want to be able to support our local farmers, kay layo pud ang ilang gibyahe ug fresh gyud baya ilang mga ginabaligya ug organic pud sya walay pesticides, everything, really the freshest vegetables gyud siya ba ( because they had to travel very far and what they sell is really fresh and organic, no pesticides, everything is just really the freshest vegetable),” Ledesma said.
Ledesma said the farmers need not worry about sales due to the premium location with its proximity to the hotel, school, call centers, and residential areas.
“Automatic pagdating ng mga tao, una nakikita ang organic farmers natin, paglabas din sa venue ang nakikita ang farmers din natin, so bibili talaga sila (Automatic, when people come, they see our organic farmers first, they also see our farmers when they leave the venue, so they will be enticed to buy,” Ledesma said.
Ledesma assured that they won’t charge a fee for the carts and tents if their plan to institutionalize the farmer’s market will materialize.