The $60,000 newly infused funds for the Garapan Public Market has been deposited into their account, according to an official of the CNMI Farmer\u2019s Cooperative Association, which runs the market.<\/p>\n
With these funds, they already bought new equipment, will have a phone number for the first time, and will extend their operation hours, among other things, according to cooperative secretary Isidoro Cabrera yesterday.<\/p>\n
The money was appropriated by the Saipan and Northern Island Legislative Delegation last month. The funds were received last week and deposited in full that same day, according to Cabrera.<\/p>\n
He said the market has already started to put up a chiller and other equipment to support daily operations<\/p>\n
The market is now open Monday to Wednesday, from 10am to 6pm, as of yesterday. On Thursdays, they open at the same time but close at 7pm.<\/p>\n
On Friday, they open a 10am and close at 6pm. The market will also operate during Saturdays, from 1pm to 6pm.<\/p>\n
These new hours have extended operations by a handful of hours and into the weekend. They previously closed at 3pm, according to Cabrera.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can pay the workers longer hours,\u201d he said, describing it as \u201cgood news.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything will be changing in the coming future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
As for the turnout of produce to fill the market, he said this is \u201clooking good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis month, next month, there will be a lot of produce\u2014all the way \u2019til June there will be a lot of produce coming in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But he added that they still \u201cneed members to support the market.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you buy a share, you are a part-owner of the market,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The market will also finally have its own landline number. Cabrera said the landline has been installed already, and they are just waiting for the application to go through IT&E.<\/p>\n
He said they expect to have the line activated \u201ceither today or tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other things they are planning to purchase with the $60,000 are seeds, fertilizers, and other things that their farmers need, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times, when Ace [Hardware] or a seed supplier runs out of good seeds\u2014sometimes farmers order their own seeds directly from the company\u2014but it\u2019s more convenient when you have it directly on the island,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that fresh fish like tilapia, which are in big demand, are \u201cin the plans already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more we have, the more customers will be attracted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Garapan Public Market opened in August, funded through a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Since then they have fallen through hard times, operating on a deficit, reportedly due to lack of produce to sell during bad weather, among other things.<\/p>\n
The co-op asked for the new funds from the local delegation in September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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