Introduction
On June 7, 2025, Clara Brugada Molina, the Head of Government in Mexico City, launched the Nopal Fair at the Monumento a la Revolución. This event marked the declaration of agricultural terraces in Milpa Alta, Xochimilco, Tláhuac, and Iztapalapa as the city’s biocultural heritage. The fair, running from June 7 to 8, aims to celebrate the nopal plant and support local producers.
Background on Clara Brugada Molina
Clara Brugada Molina is the current Head of Government in Mexico City, responsible for overseeing the city’s administration and development. Her commitment to modernizing agriculture and promoting local products, such as the nopal, highlights her dedication to sustainable urban growth and preserving cultural traditions.
Nopal Fair Details
- Location: Monumento a la Revolución, Mexico City
- Dates: June 7-8, 2025
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Activities: Expo-sale of nopal-derived products, display of Nopalera sculptures, traditional music and dance performances, and showcasing the ancestral terraced cultivation system.
Agricultural Terraces as Heritage
Brugada Molina emphasized the historical and environmental significance of declaring agricultural terraces as city heritage. These terraces, she stated, are a testament to a way of life that resists displacement and showcases the wisdom of transforming rocks into cultivation and lava into life.
Support for Nopal Production
The Head of Government pledged to support the modernization of nopal production, providing resources for technology and promoting its certification. Nopal is a vital agricultural product in Mexico City, with annual production exceeding 200,000 metric tons, and it is the city’s only self-sufficient agricultural product.
Frequent Ferias to Boost Nopal Sales
Brugada Molina announced that the Nopal Fair will take place every three months at Plaza de la República to encourage nopal consumption and support producers. The nopal, she noted, is a milennial food, medicine, national symbol, and essential component of agroecological systems sustaining thousands of families.
Recognition from Local Leaders
Octavio Rivera Villaseñor, the Milpa Alta alcalde, expressed gratitude for the Head of Government’s support in organizing the Nopal Fair outside his jurisdiction. This event will introduce the plant’s importance, origin, and gastronomic benefits to the entire population.
Milpa Alta’s Nopal Production
Milpa Alta is known as the nopal’s home in Mexico City, as it accounts for 90% of the city’s nopal production. In 2024, the region harvested 250,292 metric tons of nopal.
Fair Participation and Product Showcase
During the fair, Brugada Molina witnessed nopal desespinado techniques and learned about product elaboration processes. Producers presented various nopal-derived items, including encurtidos, frituras, aguas frescas, mermeladas, pan, tamales, tortillas, and prepared foods made from maize, amaranto, moles, and salsas.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Nopal Fair? The Nopal Fair is an event celebrating the nopal plant, its products, and local producers in Mexico City.
- When and where does the fair take place? The fair occurs every three months at Plaza de la República, Mexico City, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- What is the significance of declaring agricultural terraces as city heritage? This declaration acknowledges the historical and environmental importance of these terraces, which represent a resilient way of life.
- How will the fair support nopal production? The fair aims to modernize nopal production, promote its certification, and boost sales through regular events.
- Who participated in the Nopal Fair? Local leaders, including Clara Brugada Molina, Octavio Rivera Villaseñor, Berenice Hernández Calderón, Julia Álvarez Icaza, Ana Francis López, and Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, attended the event.
