Thousands trek to the Capital City for Agric 2010

The annual pilgrimage to the Garden City for what has become Belize’s biggest commercial fair lived up to expectations over the past weekend. Thousands headed to the agriculture and trade show and as News Five’s Isani Cayetano found out, there was something for everybody.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The change from being an agrarian expo to seeing the participation of unrelated businesses has allowed Belizeans the opportunity to benefit from the many offers available.  There are however, farmers including Belarmino Esquivel who believe that equal emphasis should be placed on local produce.

Belarmino Esquivel, District Agric. Dept. Orange Walk

belarmino esquivel

“Feeding Belize means that we need to produce our local food.  First we need to be self-sufficient in order for us to start bringing in foreign exchange to export. So bringing in foreign exchange we have our traditional commodities like bananas, like sugar; you know these are commodities that we export and we bring in foreign exchange.  But first of all before going to that we need to bring in, we need to produce our local foods to feed our people.”

Speaking of local foods, Running W’s stall, a mainstay at the agric show, was alive with the smell of fresh meat being cooked.

Lenard Gentle, Supervisor, Running W Brand Meats

“So far from we started this morning we haven’t out the grills as yet.  Normally in other years we would take a break but from we started this morning everything has been busy.  Everything is going.  Business is good I would say that.”

Isani Cayetano

“The National Agriculture and Trade Show has over the past two decades become the primary vehicle for Belizeans businesses to showcase both commercial and agricultural products.  This year is no different as it is anticipated that thousands of Belizeans will flock to the showground here in Belmopan to look for the best bargains on cell phones, German Shepherd puppies, livestock and of course food and drinks.”

From tribal drums to peppers and premium denim everything was on sale at this year’s expo.  International businesses from Quintana Roo, Mexico were also on hand to pitch their products.  One such company was Inner Motion Denim.

Manager, Inner Motion Jeans

“For men we carry two styles; four styles in two different fits.  We handle the skinny fit which is you know, all the way down, very tight and also we carry the boot cut which is all the way to the knee tying up and it opens up a little bit at the bottom, which would be this one.  This is one of our styles that I mentioned on the skinny fit and this is another wash which is on the skinny fit.”

While most were out looking for deals on choice items some were content just taking a horse ride through the fair.  Others stood under tents enjoying live entertainment while few preferred selling locally made musical instruments.

Drum Salesman

“When you have a little somebody sick in your house you can play a little drum and chant down Babylon and try to chase vibes from around the house.  Play your drum, let the music spread throughout the world, communicate with your family and friends etcetera.”

And so Belizeans converged and walked the designated stretch along the way meeting, greeting and shopping.  When all was said and done I just wanted to satisfy my insatiable appetite for steak after braving the ninety degree heat. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.