WHAT IS THE MERCADO RANCHERO?
The Mercado Ranchero was founded in February 2016 in the pueblo magico (magical town) of Todos Santos. The store curates rural products of traditional design and artisanal production, and our objective is to support more than 40 ranches in the state of Baja California Sur by bringing their unique and traditional goods to market. Today, we are proud to support the economy and stability of the ranch communities we serve.
WHY WE ARE UNIQUE
Our producers take great pride in the products from their ranches. All of them work on a very small but sustainable scale: each piece of furniture, every knife, each jar of honey and clay casserole is made by hand and has its own unique history. And their production depends on the seasons – rain, drought, heat and lunar cycles affect the availability of the natural resources on which the ranchers depend. While our products are not mass-produced and not always available all the time, everything in the Mercado Ranchero is guaranteed unique.
HAND CRAFTS
HOME GOODS
EDIBLE GOODS
FURNITURE
RESTORATION
COMING SOON!
GUIDED TOURS
OUR LOCATIONS
OUR NEW LOCATION IN THE OTRO LADO
Horizonte Street, El Rinconcito neighborhood
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am–3pm
OUR MISSION
The traditional ranches of Baja California Sur range from the remote and rugged mountains of the Sierras to the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Historically, they have been the heart of Baja identity and culture. But that way of life is at risk as older ranchers die, the ranches are sold to speculators, left to decay, or family land is abandoned by the new generation migrating to urban areas. The ranches that remain struggle to survive and the Mercado Ranchero is dedicated to honoring and preserving their traditions.
Take a look at the rural and artisanal products of traditional design at our store
Edible Goods
Dairy products of goat and cow milk (butter, cottage cheese, cheeses, milk, etc)
Preserves and dried fruits, (chilpitin, brined vegetables, sausages, dried mango)
Wines and spirits (damiana liqueur, mountain plum, missionary wine)
Dried spices and medicinal plants (oregano, damiana, etc)
Regional seasonal sweets and virgin honey
Dried, fresh and aired meats (machaca, jerky, fresh lamb, pork, goat, etc.)
Hand Crafts & Home Goods
Artisan blacksmithing (typical sudcalifornian knife)
Dry goods (embroidered napkins, rugs etc)
Saddlery (saddles, straps, chamois, typical Baja California leathers)
Jewelry (earrings, key rings, bracelets, etc)
Regional Wood Furniture (palo de arco chairs, tables, benches, lounges etc)
Clay Pottery (pots, casseroles, plates, bowls, etc)
Carved Stone (bowls, molcajetes, etc)
The Heart of Mercado Ranchero
OUR STORY
Rancho Las Playitas filled my wonderful childhood with luscious gardens, animals, and plenty of activity. Each morning on the ranch had responsibilities, and although it was not without hard work, it was worth it to cherish everything our parents provided to us. The early mornings that we left our beds to harvest in the garden or went to the corrals to milk the cows and goats was not without reward. I remember the beautiful sunrises over the orchard as we cut fruits, or busied ourselves making cheese. Ranch life is not for the faint of heart, but there is beauty in each working day.
When we finished our ranch work for the day, we would make the 15km trek to the small town of Todos Santos. Without the resources to sell our products in a store, we would have to go door-to-door to sell directly to our customers. There was great reward in how personal it was to see people waiting for us, and get the first hand feedback on our products.
Although most were appreciative of our hard work, there were those who wanted to acquire our product at a low price. They valued their own benefit regardless of the remoteness of our ranch, the heat of the summer sun, or the other challenges we faced. This sometimes pushed us to sell our product practically for free so we did not return to the ranch without money. There were days when we had to return exhasuted with all our products, only to rise at dawn to do it all again. It was on days like those that I would tell myself “one day I will have a store where all the ranchers have a space to sell their products and they won’t have to struggle.”
After several years, we managed to put together a project that we called El Mercado Ranchero. It was a small store where we gathered all the products from our ranches and sold them at a fair price, with all the pride and nobility that comes with being a ranchero. And here we are, happy and eager to launch not just a project but also a great dream.
- Angela (“Yera”) Cota – September 2021