Cancún, Quintana Roo — Street market vendors across Cancún are ramping up hygiene measures following several cases of gastrointestinal infections during the current heat wave, aiming to maintain public trust amid an economic downturn, according to the union representing them.
Aarón Gama Castillo, legal representative of the Union of Markets and Street Vendors of Quintana Roo, said sales have dropped 60% in recent months due to intense heat and the summer vacation period, a decline not seen in previous years.
“In these past weeks, the heat has been very strong, and it keeps people from going out to shop,” Gama said. He noted that about 20% of vendors are choosing not to set up their stalls to avoid additional transportation costs.
The union expects sales to pick up by mid-August, when children return to school and many families come back from vacation.
Gama emphasized that daily inspections are being carried out in coordination with the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) to ensure that vendors selling food and beverages comply with proper regulations, particularly in light of possible diarrhea outbreaks. Vendors are also advising customers on how to wash and disinfect vegetables.
“These inspections are essential to give consumers confidence, especially with the rising temperatures,” Gama said.
The union has established cooperation agreements with all three levels of government to ensure a positive shopping experience at these popular markets, he added.
