Ultimate Ways to Buy Local in the Dominican Republic

Buy Local Fruits and Vegetables

After all those sweets, it’s time to get healthy. Luckily fresh fruits and vegetables are found all over the country. Apart from supermarkets and small corner stores, trucks are often parked roadside with beds full of fresh produce.

In 2019, the Dominican Republic was the 2nd largest producer of avocados and the 2nd larger producer of papaya in the world (FAO). The country also produces bananas, pineapples, coconuts, yucca, mangos, lemons, and oranges for local markets and export (FAO, FAO). On a smaller scale, vegetables are produced for local consumption. These include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, plantains, carrots, broccoli, corn, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, potatoes, onions, and eggplants (Dominican Today, FAO). Exotic fruits such as guava also make up a small portion of agricultural sales.

Many farmers grow organic fruits and vegetables. But, due to lack of awareness, barriers for entry, and a minute local market for organic goods, these goods go uncertified and sell at the same price as non-organic produce (FAO). Another interesting contrast is that most of the processed fruits and vegetables you see in supermarkets, such as precut french fries, are in fact imported. Therefore, it’s important to buy whole foods rather than their processed counterparts (University of Buffalo).