ILOILO CITY — The flavors of Iloilo's farms are coming straight to the city center this week. Merkado Lokal returns on June 10 and 11, 2026, at the Ker and Co. Building in the Lunok area, running from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The market brings together local farmers and sellers offering their best homegrown products. As a special treat, free vegetable seedlings will be available on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
The free seedlings include mulberry, malunggay, guava, pomelo, and Bicol sili. These varieties reflect the city's commitment to promoting backyard gardening and food self‑sufficiency among Ilonggo households. The giveaway encourages residents to grow their own food, reinforcing the farm‑to‑table culture that underpins Iloilo's UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status. The seedlings are provided through the Office of the City Agriculturist.
A Market That Celebrates Ilonggo Food Culture
Merkado Lokal has become a regular fixture in Iloilo City's food landscape, creating a direct link between rural producers and urban consumers. The market eliminates middlemen, ensuring farmers receive fair prices while buyers access fresher, more affordable produce. Each edition draws a loyal following of home cooks, restaurant owners, and food enthusiasts seeking the ingredients that define Ilonggo cuisine.
The Ker and Co. location in the Lunok area provides a convenient, accessible venue for the two‑day event. Shoppers can expect a wide array of seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and local delicacies. The market also serves as an informal gathering space where farmers and consumers exchange recipes, cooking tips, and stories behind the produce. For visitors to Iloilo, Merkado Lokal offers an authentic taste of the region's agricultural richness and culinary heritage.
Growing a Greener, More Food‑Secure City
The free seedling distribution aligns with Iloilo City's broader push for urban agriculture and food security. Earlier this year, the city launched a training program on urban and peri‑urban farming and expanded its communal gardens to 100 barangays. These initiatives complement the city's gastronomic identity by ensuring that the ingredients behind Ilonggo cuisine are grown locally and sustainably.
For the families who take home mulberry or malunggay seedlings, the market offers more than a transaction. It provides the means to cultivate their own food source, reduce household expenses, and contribute to a greener city. Merkado Lokal embodies the principle that a city celebrated for its food must also nurture the land and the farmers who sustain it.
