With the arrival of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week, fish sales skyrocket, which is why the Ministry of Agriculture estimates consumption of 47,000 tons these days, especially Thursdays and Fridays, which means 6% more than the previous year.
However, the reality for some merchants at the Central de Abastos (Cenabastos) of Cúcuta is different, because, although this meat continues to be the favorite for the time, their cash registers have had a decrease in operations.
Read also: Businessmen are concerned about the ‘overflowing crime’ in Norte de Santander
The manager of Patty’s Fish Market, Patricia Sampayo, reported that prices remained stable, except for striped catfish, the most commercialized, which It rose around $3,000 per kilo. While seafood decreased, as did salmon, which went from $75,000 to $65,000 per kilo.
“We see that consumers reduced their purchases a little. However, people continue to wear them, even if it is during the season,” said Sampayo.
The manager of Mi Pez, Marcos Fidel Torres, stated that they expected better sales, since, in previous years, the influx of customers was greater. He highlighted that, due to prices, “they are a little high”, citizens refrain from purchasing the product.
You may be interested: They propose to build an obelisk in Cúcuta for tourism and in honor of Camilo Daza
“In previous years, sales were higher. Right now everything is very expensive. These days, the number of people who came in previous weeks has increased by more than half. On Holy Wednesday it sells four times more than a normal day,” Torres said.
Cecilio Correal Moreno was one of the visitors who was yesterday in search of good prices and quality, at the Central de Abastos. “We are providing ourselves. It is tradition in the house consume fish on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday,” he added to The opinion.
For Ramón Flórez, he feels the hit in his pocket a bit due to the prices, but he makes the effort to have this meat during the holiday, carrying the most economical varietybecause it is “inevitable”.
Marleny Torres maintained that this protein is the healthiest and most accessible due to its cost, which is why she does not stop buying it, especially mojarra and cachama.
Read also: The proposal for users to pay less for public services
The operational leader of Cenabastos, Eduardo Urbina, explained that since last year, every Holy Week, the Fish Festival has been launched, because they want encourage sales of its merchants, highlighting that during these days they expect 200 to 250 customers daily in the meat area of the Galpón Azul.
“Good Friday is the only day we close, but we open that day at 6:00 in the afternoon, for the entry of the merchandise that will be sold on Saturday. Therefore, the invitation is for you to approach doors 1 and 4, which are the main corridors, so that you can buy the fish at a good price,” Urbina highlighted.
