BONIC/ A FEST

Here comes the 2nd edition of BONIC/A FEST organized by Regidoria de Comerç i Abastiment de València. A wonderful event that happens for second consecutive year in Valencia with the main goal to attract the attention to the municipal markets.

The municipal markets in Valencia are one of the great informal structures of good relationships and confidence in each district. There are 14 markets and they are supplying to people and businesses. Pitily, despite the quality of the goods, there are less and less people buying there. The reasons are complex, but mainly concerning the preference to buy fresh fruits, meat and fish in the supermarkets, instead of in the market.

If you go to one of those markets, especially on Saturday morning, you will see the elderly (and not so elderly) people chatting how is life going when they get the veggies, or exchange a recipe for the meat that the butcher offers. And you will spend a long time there as then the queues are quite long. Everybody wants to buy more for the week ahead. The second time you go to buy there, you are greeted at every stand as if you are their everyday client.

This close relationship of the grocers-clients is so characteristic for the markets and not only in Spain and that is why the client is called Bonic/a (nice, pretty in Valencian). Some of these grocers are producers and can tell you some stories about the goods they sell, but for sure you will get the best. You would like to buy there next week as well. Definitely, the markets still offer the quality and the good vibe that one needs. And in these times, that everybody is hurrying, the markets need some help.

Many activities are taking place there, different fests and district celebrations, and one big common for the whole city - Bonic/a Fest. In the night the markets are transformed to gourmet bars, offering some of the products they usually offer and all this is mixed with rich cultural programme - shows, concerts, exhibitions, etc. A fantastic time to see your district market open by night and enjoy the artmosphere.

The markets haven't stopped to adapt themselves to the current needs of the people - they open certain afternoons, offer to bring you home the purchase (usually by bike), get your old oil to be recycled, have kids' spaces, etc. So, the Bonic/a Fest is a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the grocers that usually are neighbours and re-establish one's way of shopping.