\n\t\t\t\tMaria \u201cFrica\u201d Pangelinan, president of the CNMI\u2019s Farmer Cooperative Associatiton, weighs squash for sale at the Garapan Public Market. (Dennis B. Chan)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nIn a spirit of community and service, the CNMI Farmer\u2019s Cooperative Association began their operations at the newly opened Garapan Public Market this week, as what they hope is a win-win partnership between producers and consumers begins in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n\u201cI believe [the Garapan Public Market] is not really for profit or for charity, it\u2019s for service,\u201d Ben Borja said, a retired agriculturalist and a member of the co-op said, on the market\u2019s unique business model that aims to be fair to everyone involved.<\/p>\n
Borja described the opening of the market as a \u201csecond-chance\u201d for himself and others who\u2019ve tried to provide centralized agricultural services in years past but failed.<\/p>\n
The idea of service was earlier echoed by former senator Maria Frica Pangelian\u2014president of the co-op\u2014in her remarks to the audience at the market\u2019s unveiling on Monday\u2014an opening that would not have been possible without the aid of volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the help of the former ambassador of the Philippines sorting eggplants, we had a doctorate\u2019s degree in education sweeping the floor, we had an accountant stocking avocadoes and making sure they\u2019re in the right place, we had the architect trying to improvise how we can [arrange] the avocado and the eggplant and the bananas,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Both Pangelinan and secretary of the co-op\u2019s board, Isidoro Cabrera, said that both farmers and consumers will benefit from being a member of the co-op and market.<\/p>\n
Pangelinan encourages those interested to buy a share\u2014worth $50\u2014to become a member.<\/p>\n
According to Cabrera, a member can buy up to 10 shares.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the producers\u2019 side, they\u2019re going to make the products available and then from the consumer\u2019s side they\u2019re going to support this cooperative, and so at the end of the year when we build enough equity, we can give a patronage refund,\u201d Pangelinan said.<\/p>\n
Cabrera said he expect the market to develop over the next several years with standard prices for its produce set by its board of directors.<\/p>\n
On the patronage refund, he said, \u201cDepending how much [a famer in a year] sold to the market, you get a certain percentage [of its profit in return].\u201d<\/p>\n
Cabrera believes that a majority of the farmers on island are, to date, a part of the co-op, and that he expects more to join in the weeks to come.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that farmers from Rota and Tinian may also join the co-op.<\/p>\n
According to Pangelinan, the co-op has over 50 members, with membership still open to those interested.<\/p>\n
Pangelinan described the connection between farmers and consumers in the community as \u201ccritical,\u201d as the agriculture on island provides people with resources they need in their daily lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is just so many potential,\u201d she said, on areas the market can continue to expand in.<\/p>\n
She described a potential community kitchen in which\u2014for example\u2014 bananas that are overripe and otherwise wasted are used to make donuts to sell to customers.<\/p>\n
She said that the co-op\u2019s daily responsibilities will be to operate the market with integrity just like any other business that wants to succeed. <\/p>\n
However, unlike some business she believes the farmer\u2019s market has a different objective.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Our objective] is that everyone has a sense of belonging and ownership in the business,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In an interview, Perry Tenorio, managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority, said the venue adds another option to tourists during Thursday night\u2019s street market as the market is within walking distance of the Garapan area and provides fruits like coconuts and bananas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new product that our visitors can enjoy as well,\u201d Tenorio said.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday, according to Cabrera, the market will be opened from 8am to 6pm this week.<\/p>\n
He encourages producers to deliver daily as business has been \u201cvery good.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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