Cancún Mayor Honors Women Market Vendors on International Women’s Day

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Mayor Ana Patricia Peralta marked International Women’s Day by celebrating with over a thousand women market vendors, highlighting their fundamental role in supporting family economies and local commerce in this resort city.

The event brought together 1,200 members of the Union of Market Vendors and Street Merchants of Quintana Roo, an organization founded 36 years ago that now includes 48 markets within Benito Juárez municipality with approximately 3,000 active members. More than 70% of these vendors are women.

“Women market vendors sustain their households’ economies through daily work,” Mayor Peralta said during the gathering. She emphasized the importance of unity through the “Cancún Nos Une” (Cancún Unites Us) initiative launched at the start of her administration and pledged ongoing support for the vendors.

Melitón Ortega García, leader of the vendor union, noted that markets have provided dignified spaces for women throughout their 36-year history. “Women are fundamental to household economies and deserve recognition, admiration, and respect,” he said.

Ortega García recalled that the first market began with just 30 to 40 people and thanked the mayor for establishing Municipal Market Vendor Day, making Benito Juárez the only municipality that officially recognizes this form of street commerce.

Paloma Ortega Cuervo, secretary of the organization, added that each market stall represents pride and strengthens family economies. “This is a collective story of courage,” she said, announcing that the Municipal Market Vendor Day will be celebrated on May 6.

With Cancún having the highest number of markets in the region, officials are currently reviewing applications to authorize two new sales locations, which would further expand the municipal market network.