Goan Farmers’ Market - For homegrown produce

It’s a Sunday afternoon at Daddy’s Home uphill at Fatorda where rows of vehicles parked outside on the narrow, zigzag roads crowd the area. As you make entry through the compound, a heap of organic, homemade compost greets you. On one side is Cajeton Almeida with his popular Soursoup plants and besides him is Oscar Silveira with his Bonsais.   

As you walk further farmers and vendors with local vegetables and fruits, eggs, tender coconuts, boiled rice, spices, turmeric an chili powder, coconut oil, coconut jaggery, salt, cashewnuts, alsande, vinegar, homemade wine and honey are seen busy marketing their products. Then there are pickles and jams, seeds, green salads and sprouts along with flowers like orchids, various types of plants, seeds, soil and pots. Some decorate their tables with homemade Goan sweets like Bebinca, Pinagra, Dosh and cakes - all mouth-watering delicacies. This is the scene at Goan Farmers’ Market organised at Daddy’s Home on Sunday recently.   

“Next such market will be on May 6 at the same venue,” informs Chiara Viegas e Tulkar who along with her two sisters Sheena Viegas Menezes, Anne Viegas and brother-in-law Ian Menezes has initiated the concept - to spread the green message and help people live healthfully through making available a platform where farmers and consumers meet regularly at Margao.  

“The concept that began in May 2016 is gaining popularity and more and more farmers are joining us with their product,” admits Chiara. The concept these four visualised and initiated two years ago has picked up speedily and is getting popular across South Goa, with more names and products being added to their list of participants. The Goan Farmers’ Market held on April 15 at Daddy’s Home in Fatorda witnessed 32 participants who displayed their products and registered sales.   

“We charge 10 per cent of the sales whatever takes place at the venue, as our fees,” briefed Chiara, adding, “Such a thing has never happened that there were no sales on a particular stall. And we are actually not looking for the fees, as a part of the amount collected goes as charity to Daddy’s Home, as we use their premises for this meet.”   

“We have been getting good response from the consumers, especially those who stress on healthy food produce. There is a great demand of farm fresh produce in the market,” admits a farmer Claudias Dias who along with his mother was selling Ukdo tandool (local variety of boiled rice).  

Chiara points out, “Our aim is to encourage the local farmers to grow more,” states Chiara, a hotel management graduate, who after working for a decade in the field took a break to give time to family. “I worked in Park Hyatt in Goa and Hyatt Dubai too. After I quit my job to take care of home and family, I thought of this, as I was always keen in health and healthy products,” quips Chiara, a mother of two.  

The Viegas family used to organise this Farmers Market in South Goa at various locations, private and public before making Daddy’s home their venue in September 2017. It witnessed a small beginning - with 10 participants initially, with known people. Slowly the movement built up through word of mouth and more people joined hands. The organisers took fees only to cover the cost of organising and pay for the venue. There has been a good support from the patrons. People eagerly wait for us to announce the next date of Goan Farmers’ Market and keep inquiring at regular intervals - and in them are both farmers as well as consumers,” discloses a happy Chiara who nurtures her own backyard garden for home grown fruits and vegetables for a healthy treat.   

Through the social media, a word is spread. Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp comes handy and listings in the newspapers also help in informing people about this green market that offers farm-fresh produce to conscious consumers.