Heat and holiday season cut sales, force early closures at Mexican markets

Vendors at the open‑air market in Badajoz report that stalls are being taken down as early as 11:30 a.m., about an hour and a half before the usual closing time, because temperatures regularly exceed 30 °C. One seller said, "La gente viene a las nueve y a las once se va," noting a roughly 50 % drop in shoppers and higher fuel costs for reaching the market.

At Merida’s Lucas de Gálvez market, merchants say sales are down about 20 % during the vacation period. Prices for fruits, vegetables and other staples have stayed relatively stable, but foot traffic has fallen as shoppers avoid the midday heat and there are no major holidays to drive demand. A fruit‑vendor explained, "No han levantado las ventas, pero es algo cíclico," while another observed that tourists tend to eat out rather than buy groceries. Both markets are calling for better support for street vendors facing these seasonal challenges.