Santo Domingo.- The entrance to Merca Santo Domingo resembles any department store or shopping mall, with farm products neatly arranged in their bins, specified by types and colors, and with price tags in most cases.
But the big difference is that products are fresher, higher quality and up to 40 percent cheaper than in supermarkets and convenience stores.
Any day is a good day to visit the complex 22 kilometers north on the Duarte highway, where more than 300 vendors are eager to hawk their wares to the more than 20,000 people who visit each week.
"Here is selling very well, every day increase more sales, especially on weekends," said vendor Jose Luna, quoted by eldia.com.do.
Clean and comfortable
Unlike other markets across the country, visitors to Merca Santo Domingo can shop in comfort through wide corridors and clean spaces dividing one stand from the other. The market has bathrooms, a clinic and 24-7 vigilance.
From peppers to potatoes, and tomatoes to rice and beans, the sprawling market offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, fish and meats and even eddoes.