Curitiba Receives First Organic Produce Market in the Country
On the 12th of February, Mayor Beto Richa and the Minister for Agricultural Development, Guilherme Cassel, inaugurated the Curitiba Municipal Organic Produce Market; the first public market of its kind in Brazil. Built by City Hall in partnership with the ministry, the Organic Produce Market offers more than 1,100 types of products bearing the seal of pesticide and chemical additive-free produce. The new shopping and leisure space is strategically located; close to the city centre and integrated with the traditional Municipal Market which receives on average 55 thousand visitors per week.
The building boasts 3,700 square metres, with two floors, a car park, and 22 commercial units, occupied by; two snack bars, a restaurant, three grocers, a butcher, a crafts shop, a cosmetics store, a clothing boutique and eight stands for greengrocery and processed products.
The shops and stands are situated on the ground floor. On the market’s first floor there is an amphitheatre which is to be used for courses and meetings for shopkeepers, farmers and businesspeople. The idea is to stimulate organic business rounds. There is also a kitchen for culinary courses.
Guarantee – All commerce within the market is covered by organic certification, provided by the IBD – Biodynamic Institute, and Tecpar – the Parana Institute of Technology. There are two types of certification; one for produce and the other for the stores.
Organic, hydroponic and conventional produce: how to choose
Organic – If you intend to savour produce cultivated without the use of pesticides and with a higher concentration of nutrients and help the environmental equilibrium to boot, organic produce is your best choice. In organic agriculture fruits and vegetables are produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or chemical additives; guaranteeing better health for both you and the farm workers.
Hydroponic – Hydroponic produce differs from conventional produce in that it is planted in water and not soil. The basic principle of hydroponics is that all the nutrients the plant needs in order to develop are dissolved in the water in which the plants roots are immersed. Caution: Hydroponic products are not the same as organic products; pay close attention to the information on the packaging.
Conventional – Conventional produce receive chemical additives to enhance their development. When these additives are used responsibly and appropriately by the farmer, conventional produce offers no risk to the customer’s health.
Curitiba Municipal Organic Produce Market
Address: Rua da Paz, 608 – next to the Curitiba Municipal Market
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 7a.m. to 6p.m. Monday, from 7a.m. to 2p.m. Sunday, from 7a.m. to 1p.m.
Telephone: 3218-2602
