The Mercadillo, which is held every Monday afternoon for an hour and a half, is being organized jointly between Azoka and the Association of Neighbours and Neighbours, and they have said that from the beginning Behemendi has helped them a lot in the creation of the fair. And they want to take advantage of this space of a market that is born and stabilized naturally to accommodate the grass-roots movement and other players: “The sum is being nice. Many Monday has been here the material of Euskaraldia, against dispersion, the post of the historical archive Gordegia, the tenant union in recent weeks has occupied its place... When the acts that unite us in the public space are losing, it is a point of reference”, explains the neighbors and neighbors who take the initiative of the fair. “A plazoleta and a plan have been created to be with the people. People come to buy but talk to one neighbor and the other.” And they add: “El Mercadillo is, among others, a practical exercise in empowering citizens and communities.”

They are satisfied because the neighborhood responds to the different needs it had for years and at the same time it stabilizes consumption: “Our initial fear was that, the excitement of the first few weeks, but it hasn’t been so, and neighbors have stabilized the habit of shopping. Producers of goods sell it in large quantities. Even in those who have done bad time, people have come.”

Keys to success

For an hour and a half we've seen the neighbors moving, looking for weekly products, talking about each other. The tables show the selected goods, few and good, as well as those that serve directly from the van. The market has a quick set-up and set-aside structure, without pompoms, but very effective. It is clear that neighbours also come to buy directly without being fired.

The organisation has been consulted on the keys to success: “It’s the sum of many things. The quality of the product, the direct relationship with the producer: you know what you eat, where it comes from... in that relationship, it is awakening the consciousness of the food”. They also explain that the confinement has left its mark: “In the confinement it was and has remained the date of Monday, when many citizens reflected on the consumption model.” They have also explained that the food awareness efforts of consumer groups over the years have borne fruit. There are three highly stabilized consumption groups reaching the 75-100 households in Egia, “and there are two other consumption groups.”

They are happy because the citizens who come to the fair are not only those who are in all the sauces: “Different people start to come, and that’s a great achievement.” Until now, they have opened the call through the neighborhood groups, but they intend to zoning this initiative in the neighborhood, “because many do not know it yet”.

Looking to the future

Since September, special fairs have been held in which other producers participate, selling wine, cider, cheese.

The purchases are also made in groups through networks such as the contribution of organic oranges from Valencia, organic legumes from Navarra... “Our intention is to go further, work the awareness of long-term consumption patterns. We would also like to work with local traders to drive local consumption.” Starting with food, they note the possibility of extending the scope of self-properties: energy sovereignty (Goiener), technology (Izarkom)...

In the neighborhood there are many groups that want to promote their presence in the market: for example, the members of the literary circle organized an exchange of books at the last special fair. “We also want to accommodate these kinds of activities, we do not want the market to be something that only organizes a group of fairs, but that social movements have a place. The fair is also becoming a benchmark for this.”

But they say they go “slowly and naturally” with a smile, “without forcing or burning. The main objective is to maintain it and make specific fairs.” They're happy because people are adding in the day-to-day. “With each one’s participation in a given job, the small structure is stabilized and strengthened. And when you ask for help, the people in the neighborhood respond, and that gives you the strength to move forward. The fair has aroused the illusion.”

They also have a list of petitions to the City Hall to strengthen the infrastructure to offer the most appropriate conditions to the producers. And at the fair the project of promoting young consumers and women producers is being worked on.