The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria today accompanied the mayors of Santa Lucía, Ingenio and Agüimes at the start of this event in which artisans and farmers show their best products
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The Southeast Fair has started today in Vecindario to celebrate its coming of age with 150 stalls and more than 160 farmers, producers and artisans who will turn Avenida de Canarias into “the best meeting point this weekend,” said the president. of the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Southeast and mayor of Ingenio, Ana Hernández, at its inauguration.
“It is indisputable that support for farmers, ranchers and artisans is always necessary, but even more so after a pandemic,” said the mayor, who considered the Southeast Fair “a magnificent space” to enjoy leisure, music, tradition. and the culture of the land.
Located in this well-known open commercial area of Vecindario, the fair will also give a boost to the local economy of the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, whose president Francisco García, recalled that now is the time for the olive and orange harvest, and the best time to show “the good quality of our cheeses, salt, pastries”, among many other products that are grown or made in the southeastern region.
According to the host mayor, artisans and farmers “have worked overtime to have products for sale in this new edition of the Southeast Fair,” which is being held this weekend for the second time this year to recover the two events suspended due to to the pandemic and to match its location with the municipality that holds the presidency of the Commonwealth. For this reason, “the idea is to maintain one a year, although next year there will surely be two to recover” the lost rhythm, explained the mayor.
The mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, who likes to call this meeting “the Fiesta of the Southeast”, highlighted “the magnificent conditions” in which this 18th edition of the fair is held, which allows us to meet one of the objectives of the Southeast Commonwealth “which is the drive for economic development linked to citizenship.”
In that sense, the fair is the best showcase to “show what is produced in our region and to gain the loyalty of people who can purchase these products”, within the framework of the sustainable development project “that the Commonwealth has linked to people ”.
This was also valued by the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, who stated that in the last 18 years “this fair model has been consolidated that looks directly at the local primary sector, which has been generating throughout over the years, greater awareness and awareness about the need to consume local products.”
“We are facing a very critical situation on a global level, so, when we talk about breaking dependencies on the outside, situations like the ones we are experiencing give us more reasons than ever to look at the rural world, at agriculture and livestock and therefore both to consume local products,” said the island president.
Morales valued the work of the Southeast Commonwealth that works hand in hand with farmers, ranchers and artisans to continue improving the quality of their product. “This fair is a great showcase of all the opportunities that the southeast of the island offers in this case,” he said, advocating to reproduce this model throughout the island territory: “it is important because it generates marketing channels for producers.”
Music, children's activities and gastronomy
As in the previous edition, the municipalities of Santa Lucía, Agüimes and Ingenio will have 50 stands each where producers and artisans from each locality will have the option of displaying their products and selling them directly to the attending public.
During the three days of the fair, parties will go around the stands to encourage visitors, and the little ones will be able to entertain themselves with various activities, such as the Cancionero Isleño, which will offer twelve performances during the weekend, and the livestock exhibition, always attractive for young people and adults. Traditional games will also be present at the fair, with samples on Friday and Saturday afternoons and on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
One of the most successful activities during the weekend is 'Cooking the Southeast', with tastings of wines and cheeses, oils and pastries, cheeses and breads... The best restaurant professionals in the area will delight guests. visitors with their recipes based on typical products from the southeast.
The icing on the cake is the musical performances that will take place on the central stage of the fair: Los Gofiones, Los Sabandeños and the singer Yeray Rodríguez repeat in this edition in which Los Coquillos, Vocal7, Arístides and 101 Grand Brass also participate; and a presentation of distinctions to three outstanding producers and artisans.
All activities are free and open to anyone who wants to learn about the products of the land, and take the opportunity to take home a product to enjoy calmly or a sample of the best work of the area's artisans.
The Commonwealth of the Southeast of Gran Canaria expects to exceed the 100.000 people who attended the previous event, and to facilitate access for them, it has arranged up to five parking areas around Avenida de Canarias.
