Roberto’s Truck Farm

While some vegetables are grown in the milpa at BIB, there are sometimes not enough available of any given kind at Garden Share to make a meal of them, and we can’t count on any particular vegetable being available on a given Garden Share day.

So it’s nice to be able to get what we need and also give the local farmers our business when we can. BIB is fortunate to have a truck farm right across the road from our entrance.

It’s owned by Roberto Melendez, an expert gardener with years of experience.  He grows his vegetables to sell at the markets in town, but welcomes shoppers from BIB who are met with rows of splendid cabbages, onions, peppers, corn, lettuce, carrots and radishes, etc. – each in its own season, of course. 

Roberto interplants the vegetables with other plants that discourage insect damage. Marigolds are also popular for discouraging beetles, and enhancing the growth of others.

Roberto’s vegetable plots and greenhouses are visible from the road, just before BIB’s entrance, and Roberto recommends that you come in the morning, before the day heats up, when he is most likely to be out there weeding, harvesting and watering his plants.

Bring a shopping bag, because there might not be bags available when you come, and also bring along a handful of small bills and change, because Roberto doesn’t keep a cash register in the field. 

While Roberto doesn’t speak much English, you can easily make your wishes known by pointing. The prices will be right, very competitive, so there’s no need to even ask. 

If you want, you can copy off these vegetable names and some phrases to help you get over the language barrier. 

radish – rábano (RRAH-bah-no)
carrot – zanahoria (sah-nah-OH-ria)
cabbage – repollo (reh-POY-yo)
lettuce – lechuga (leh-CHOO-guh)
sweet pepper – pimienta dulce (pee-mee-EYNT-uh  DOOL-seh)
hot pepper – pimienta picante (pee-mee-EYNT-uh  pee-CAHN-teh)
cilantro – cilantro (see-LAHN-trroh) roll that Rrrrrr
cauliflower – coliflor (koh-lee-FLOR)
onion – cebolla  (say-BOH-yuh)
zuccini – zuccini (zoo-KEE-nee)

And if you’d like to try a little conversation with Roberto, practice these on your hike across the road. Belizeans really appreciate it when you make an effort to speak español:

Hello!  Hola! (OH-lah)
I need some vegetables.   (Necesito verduras. (nessa-SEE-toh  vair-DOO-rahs)
Please – por favor  (POR fah-VOR)
These are very pretty! Estos son muy bonitos! (ESS-tohs  sohn  mooey  bo-NEE-tohs)
How much for these?  –  ¿Cuánto por estos?  (KWAN-to  por  ESS-tohs)
Thank you – gracias (GRAH-see-us)
Good bye (before noon) – Buenos dias (BWEH-nohs  DEE-ahs)
Good bye (after noon) –  Buenas tardes (BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs)