Playa del Carmen Hosts Corn Fair to Celebrate Mexico’s Agricultural Heritage

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Around 30 producers, farmers and entrepreneurs showcased crops, seeds and traditional foods at the Corn Fair held at the Sayab Planetarium, part of celebrations marking Mexico’s National Corn Day.

The municipal government, led by Mayor Estefanía Mercado, organized the event through its Secretariat of Economic Development and Investment Attraction under the title “Root of Our Lands: Flavors, Science and Worldview 2026.” Participants from farming communities across Quintana Roo and other municipalities took part.

Speaking on behalf of the mayor, Economic Development and Investment Attraction Secretary Estefanía Hernández stressed the importance of strengthening the primary sector and promoting local consumption, noting that every product represents the labor of families and communities devoted to working the land.

Hernández said corn is a cornerstone of Mexican diet, identity, agricultural heritage and the rural economy, and praised the work of producers in Playa del Carmen and across Quintana Roo.

Santos Salazar Tello, director of the Sayab Planetarium, said that to speak of corn is to speak of Mexico’s history, cuisine, communities and traditions. He highlighted the value of creating spaces that bring residents closer to the knowledge, products and practices tied to agriculture.

Before the ribbon-cutting, Román Pat Caamal, a Mayan priest and Mayan language teacher at the Municipal Institute of Culture and Arts, led a Mayan blessing ceremony and spoke about the importance of preserving ancestral knowledge related to the land, seeds and farming.

The Corn and Seed Fair also featured traditional cooks and producers who offered families and visitors a sample of local products, food and agricultural know-how.

Also attending the opening ceremony were Alejandro López Acuña, director of Agricultural and Fisheries Development in Playa del Carmen; councilwoman Xelha Dehesa; Health Secretary José Antonio Uribe; and representatives of the primary sector.