The farmers of San Carlos Orange Walk are ready to harvest their potatoes this season - but they are worried that they won't have a market to sell them to. It's an annual anxiety, because Mexican potatoes dominate the supply - and consumers have gotten used to that product - which is still on the local market right now. Today, two of the farmers said their potatoes are better, and they are under pressure to sell them:...
Israel Hernandez, Potato Farmer
"The harvest for local potatoes just start, but some people from Cayo came to see the potato in Belize City. When I can't sell, I have to drop the price cheaper. These potatoes look good. Yesterday a Chinese man wanted to buy potatoes, the man ask what kind of potatoes are these. I tell him its local. He said he doesn't want those, he wanted Mexican ones. When the importers bring the potatoes from Mexico they bring mixed potatoes and the people doesn't complain about that."
Danny Hernandez, Potato Farmer
"The field is almost ready and I can't sell it. If I see the tree is dying, I have to harvest, but I don't have business for that and if I have to harvest all, I have to take it to my home and if I leave it for a long time they will spoil. I have to pay the bank, the Mennonite and everything and it's very sad for me because it's a lot of money that I spend there."
We'll have the full story of the farmer's hopes and fears on tomorrow's news.
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