Agrifood markets in Port-au-Prince, Haiti: an analysis of the Croix-des-Bossales and Marché Hyppolite Mercados agroalimentarios en Puerto Príncipe, Haití: un análisis de Croix-des-Bossales y Marché Hyppolite

Abstract

Croix-des-Bossales and Hyppolyte are the oldest agrifood markets in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, frequented by customers and vendors from various departments in the country. The purpose of this paper is to analyze these two markets, addressing their history, current characteristics,
importance and challenges, in addition to looking at the way in which national production is inserted in these spaces. To carry out this work, a bibliographic review and document analysis were
carried out, in addition to semi-structured interviews with 12 key actors. The results obtained point
out that the studied markets underwent major transformations, derived from the country's situation. In the last 20 years, in the face of sociopolitical instability, economic crisis and natural disasters, there has been a massive entry of imported products into both markets, harming national
agrifood production. Despite the difficult and complex current context, in which the vitality, security and movement in the Croix-des-Bossales and Hyppolyte markets are not the same as in previous moments, they continue to exist and resist, being important spaces for the food supply of the population of Port Prince.