What Happened
The Instituto de Mercadeo Agropecuario is holding Agroferias on Wednesday, April 15, in multiple locations across Panama, offering basic foods at low prices and requiring buyers to present their cédula at the entrance. The fairs open at 8:00 a.m. and are designed to bring affordable products closer to families in both urban and rural communities.
The day’s sales points will operate in Los Santos, the Ngäbe Buglé comarca, Panamá Oeste, Chiriquí, Herrera, Veraguas, Bocas del Toro and the capital. In the province of Panamá, the Agroferia will take place at the former bus stop on Calle 6.ª in Don Bosco, in the district of Panamá.
Where the Agroferias Will Be Held
In Los Santos, the fair will be set up beside the church in El Ejido. In the Ngäbe Buglé comarca, it will operate at the community court in Llano Tugrí, in the district of Müna. In Panamá Oeste, the location will be the community house in Buenos Aires, Chame. Chiriquí will host a fair at El Almojábano court in Dolega, while Herrera’s sale point will be the community house in La Candelaria, Pesé.
Veraguas will have two locations: the covered court in Llano Catival, Mariato, and the fairgrounds in Soná. In Bocas del Toro, the Agroferia will be in Barriada 14 de Abril, in Barranco Adentro, Changuinola. These events are part of the IMA’s ongoing effort to distribute food staples directly to consumers at controlled prices.
Prices and Permanent Stores
Among the products listed for sale are items such as a one-pound bag of salt for $0.15 and 32 slices of American processed cheese for $4. The price list also includes a range of other household staples, reflecting the role these fairs play for shoppers looking to reduce food expenses.
Beyond the traveling Agroferias, the IMA also keeps 13 permanent stores open nationwide. They are located in San Antonio, Panama City; Pan de Azúcar, San Miguelito; La Pintada and Penonomé, in Coclé; Merca Chitré, in Herrera; Cadena de Frío Volcán, in Barú; the municipal market in Bugaba and Merca David, in Chiriquí; the IMA store in La Villa de Los Santos; the IMA agency in Finca 6, Changuinola, Bocas del Toro; Bingos Nacionales, in Santa Ana, Panama; and Merca La Chorrera, in Panamá Oeste.
Why It Matters
The Agroferias have become an important part of the country’s food distribution network, especially for households seeking lower-cost essentials. By rotating through several provinces and the comarca, the IMA extends access beyond the main commercial centers and keeps basic products within reach for more communities.
For many shoppers, the combination of fair pricing, fixed schedules and multiple pickup points makes the program a practical option for weekly purchases. The presence of permanent stores alongside the mobile fairs also gives consumers more than one way to buy regulated food items across the country.