Slow Food Cooks’ Alliance and first Earth Market in Malawi To Be Inaugurated January 24 in Blantyre

17 Jan. 2025 | English

Blantyre Earth Market will be held Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 4pm

The Slow Food Earth Markets program -farmers‘ markets that follow Slow Food principles- opens its very first market in Blantyre city, in Southern Malawi, under the project Growth and Resilience in Agriculture for Sustainable Societies, G.R.A.S.S. II, supported by Comunità di Sant’Egidio and Slow Food. This project is funded by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Italian government with the 8X1000 Irpef contribution.

The G.R.A.S.S. II project, fruit of a long collaboration between Comunità di Sant’Egidio , Slow Food, and DREAM Malawi, aims to build resilient agriculture by involving people affected by HIV/AIDS in the creation of community gardens and reducing the number of individuals suffering from food deficiencies in Malawi. By integrating initiatives like the Earth Market, and Cooks’ Alliance the project promotes biodiversity, food security, and a better market access to small-scale producers. Through education and collaboration, G.R.A.S.S. II empowers farmers, strengthens food systems, and supports sustainable, inclusive practices for healthier societies.

The Blantyre Earth Market will be located in the city of Blantyre, at Chirimba market, a central and well-frequented wholesale market in the city center. Blantyre, located in the southern region of Malawi, is the country’s second-largest city and a vibrant economic and cultural hub, known for its bustling markets, historical landmarks, and proximity to stunning natural landscapes like Mount Mulanje.

The opening will take place on Friday January 24 from 8:30am until 4:30pm. at the Chirimba market. In addition to stands with products for sale, representatives of local institutions, supporting organizations, market managers, Slow Food and DREAM (C. S. Egidio) representatives will take part and welcome the public.

Steven Banda, the Blantyre Earth Market coordinator and a farmer at Kachere garden, reports some of the thought of the farmers involved, among which stands out the following declaration by Ketrina Nakutopa from Pakachere Garden Machinjiri: “We are very happy about the market because when we sell our vegetables there, we make a profit. This profit helps us support our families and enables us to maintain our garden using organic manure. The people in our community are also happy about the market. They thank the Slow Food program for establishing this system. We hope that the program will continue to support not just us, but farmers throughout Malawi.”

On his side, Christopher Sandrack, coordinator of the newly Slow Food Cooks’ Alliance in Malawi adds: “Our role as cooks is to embody a culture of reconciling with nature, appreciating the motherland and all the food it provides. We are the bridge between tradition and innovation, teaching consumers, patients, children, and communities that food is medicine. By championing local ingredients and supporting small-scale producers, we not only nourish healthier lifestyles but also strengthen local economies, safeguarding biodiversity and cultural heritage through every dish we create.”

Chefs from the Slow Food Cooks Alliance in Malawi will be present and different dishes made with garden products will be for sale in the Earth Market.

The market will allow local food communities to sell their agroecological produce directly to consumers, such as tomatoes, okra, kholowa, nkhwani, repu, mustard, bonongwe, chisoso, spinaches and more and will host about 100 producers who will participate to the market on a rotating basis among them all.

The market will additionally supply various restaurants in Blantyre city who are committed to cooking with locally and sustainably produced healthy food following agroecological practices.

For more information about the restaurants and chefs involved in the Slow Food Cooks Alliance and sourcing their supply from the gardens,

To reach Chirimba Market, take Chirimba Road from Chileka roundabout. After driving for about 3-5 minutes, turn left at Malandi Rover. The market will be on your right-hand side, just a few meters away.

For more information, please contact/visit:

 

Slow Food Press Office

Paola Nano – [email protected] (+39) 329 8321285

 Alessia Pautasso – [email protected] (+39) 342 8641029

Resources

Mit Lebensmitteln die Welt verändern

Erfahren Sie mit unserem RegenerAction-Toolkit, wie Sie Ökosysteme, Communities und Ihre eigene Gesundheit verbessern können.

Bitte aktiviere JavaScript in deinem Browser, um dieses Formular fertigzustellen.
Name
Privacy Policy
Newsletter