Listening to Mindo: What the Community Wants from Its Local Markets

Between November 6–9, 2025, Open Creators Network members Annika and Felix carried out a community questionnaire in Mindo, Ecuador, to better understand how residents perceive and use their local and organic markets.

The survey gathered 45 responses, offering a clear picture of what the community values most: fresh, organic products, fair prices, and stronger connections between producers and consumers.

Key insights:

• 75% of participants know both Mindo markets — the central park market and El Quetzal — with each valued for different reasons: location versus atmosphere.
• The top priorities are organic, healthy food and supporting local producers (68.9%), while price comes third (55.6%).
• The most desired products are fruits, vegetables, and prepared foods, followed by artisanal bread, dairy, and natural cosmetics.
• Saturday mornings are the preferred time to visit, and WhatsApp is the most effective communication channel (84.4%).
• To attract more visitors, respondents suggested more variety, cultural activities, and better promotion across town.

Many residents expressed a wish for the markets to become a more vibrant hub of community life — a place that unites local farmers, artisans, and families around sustainable living.

Annika and Felix plan to share these findings with local producers and organizers to inspire future improvements and strengthen Mindo’s commitment to healthy, local, and connected markets.

🧺 The message is clear: Mindo loves its markets — and is ready to make them thrive.