Farmer co-op president hints at stepping down

The CNMI Farmer’s Cooperative Association, which operates the Garapan Public Market, is looking at holding their first general membership meeting before the end of the year, according to co-op president Maria “Frica” Pangelinan.

“It is about time that we get the membership involved and elect new officers. We are targeting before the end of the year,” she said.

Is she looking to step down? While her services are always available if needed, Pangelinan said “it’s about time” for others to take over take the helm.

“I can still help and advise,” she said. “My heart is in this. We just need cooperation.”

The Garapan Public Market has been beset by woes since it opened in August this year. According to some co-op officials, poor timing might be responsible for these. The market began during a wet season that was tough on crops, they claimed. Secondly, they are still waiting for the promised $57,000 from the Legislature.

“We are hoping to survive until January or February,” said Pangelinan. “We just need capital from the Legislature.”

The cooperative had asked the Saipan and Northern Islands delegation for $57,000 in September to address operational costs and to help purchase a much-needed chiller for their produce.

Ike Concepcion, the co-op’s treasurer, said they have received “no word” from lawmakers since then.

A price quotation provided by a local supplier lists a “Laselle” brand four-door stainless reach-in chiller at $2,745, and a six-door one at $3,745.

“If we have the chiller for now, I think we can survive,” Pangelinan said. It doesn’t matter, she said, if she rallies all the Chinese farmers on island for bananas if half of the produce were to rot.

On profit, she said, “Sales pay for itself.” But added they have paid all the farmers who’ve supplied inventory on time.

Pangelinan said she is hesitant to promote the market aggressively because of their nearly empty produce shelves.

As for the Sabalu Market, Pangelinan labels it as “competitors.”

“That’s the decision the government will have to make. We don’t have to be here if they want the Sabalu Market. It’s 20 people benefiting on their own personal interest versus a community-benefiting, centralized operation that will be a lot of help to government with data and production,” she said.

Concepcion stepped down as treasurer of the Sabulu Market board on Nov. 1, he said, to focus on the Garapan Public Market. He said he “could not take both sides.”

Isidoro Cabrera, the co-op’s secretary, affirmed that he is also no longer affiliated with Sabalu Market.

The main reason the Sabalu Market will not move to the Garapan Public Market is because the food vendors prefer the current location, Concepcion said.

“They don’t want to come here,” he added.