On 29 October, the pupils of Simphonie, Mercabarna’s crèche, were led through the aisles of the Food Unit’s sales area to celebrate the traditional All Saints’ chestnut roast, handing out chestnuts to customers passing by. The parade is one of the different recreational activities the pre-school holds throughout the year with the aim of familiarising the pupils with traditional festivities.

On 12 November, ACC1Ó, the agency supporting Catalan business competitiveness, hosted a new meeting of the 10 main food clusters of Catalonia, including Mercabarna’s Foodservice Cluster.

In connection with the upcoming election to the Catalan Parliament, the presidential candidates for the different political parties visited Mercabarna during the electoral pre-campaign in October and November.

The economic downturn and unemployment have been particularly hard on the groups already most afflicted in terms of entering the labour market. Aware of this situation, Mercabarna’s Training Area is collaborating with several social organisations and institutions by setting up training courses to give these people the chance to find employment in the food sector.

While most people know that autumn is the season for chestnuts, squash, pomegranates, quinces, sweet potatoes, persimmons and mushrooms, many are unaware of their health-giving properties and the different ways of preparing and consuming them. For this reason the Barcelona and Province Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers Business Association (AGEM) has launched the initiative, “Experience Colourful Flavours”, which aims to reveal the special qualities of these typical products and consequently boost their consumption.

Thanks to last year’s positive experience, several wholesale businesses from Mercabarna’s Central Fruit and Vegetable Market once again took part in Fruit Attraction, the trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector held in Madrid from 20 to 22 October.

The “Barcelona Fresh” project continues to move forward. With Mercabarna’s support, the initiative seeks to boost the competitiveness of the fish sector and has been launched by Barcelona City Council’s Department of Economic Promotion, through 22@Barcelona.

In the midst of the hubbub of the Central Fish Market, the artist Victoria Rabal picks up a fish and takes it over to her work station, set up under one of the Market bridges.

Dolphin fish is mostly caught in the Pacific Ocean and, although not well-known among Spanish consumers, is reputed for its flavour and high nutritional value. While it is not an unheard-of variety at the Central Fish Market, neither is it customary to see it.

A group of 150 women pastry chefs from the Barcelona Pastry Chefs Association visited Mercabarna-flor on 15 November. Organised by the Association and Mercabarna-flor, the purpose of the visit was to acquaint the Market with a professional group that is a potential customer, since pastry chefs use flowers and plants to decorate their shop windows and adorn their confections.