Exploring the World's Largest Fruit and Vegetable Market - Mexico | World's Greatest Food Markets

yes I've got one large and one medium billingsgate Market in London's East End the hunting ground of Roger Barn they never worried about the weather where they come back from Dunkirk did they a ruthless fish Merchant with a reputation so bad it's earned him the nickname the bastard of billingsgate you want to fly Harbor with me no problem if I'd have had a mirror an hour earlier bye now after 50 years in the fish business Roger is following a dream to explore the world's greatest food markets against the sharpest Traders the program makers have given them a fighting fund to trade with working in markets the only way to learn is to put your money in [Music] any public thirty dollars in New York he won over the toughest fish merchants in America you're very affectionate for an Englishman let me tell you now he's off to Mexico City and the largest fruit and veg Market on the planet this is going to be a whole new ball game I don't speak the lingo I know nothing about fruit and veg how will billingsgate's finest cope with single fish inside and let me see let's see how good this Englishman is he might think he's good now let's see how good he really is [Music] so the long dress I am from London my Spanish is more than extremely limited honesty is good day good morning adios senorita goodbye no comprehendo well we all know that oh this is the market here we are look at the entrance it's huge increase the market this is fast [Music] because this is great organized chaos this is what billions games like 50 years ago Non-Stop can't wait to get inside to see see what's going on Roger Barton is about to enter Central de abasto the largest Food Market in the world all right amazing absolutely amazing what is this hear the noise fantastic this is a light this is electric [Applause] such an eye opener we've already come I would say three quarters of a mile and there's it's you can't see the end of it I would like every Englishman to come out here and see this bring the wife she'd love it spread over 800 acres Central is 60 times the size of billingsgate the main building is over a mile wide and contains 70 miles of corridors and passageways feeding Mexico City 10 billion dollars a year flows through Central delbuster 30 000 tons of produce is washed packed and sold each day [Music] Roger may know his Trout from his turbot but what fruit and veg should a fish Merchant sell to get a slice of the action [Music] is like peas carrot what's the name in Mexico pardon you sell plenty I see you it's a water rally he brought potatoes back to England [Music] sell plenty Tomatoes good will you tell us she's a very beautiful woman with so much choice and so little clue Roger needs good advice [Music] first he should look the part more Acapulco than billerici bonus this any self-respecting Market worker must have a personalized apron okay I would like very much if you can to put on my one the logo Roger and then the bastard of billing skates I got that reputation in billingsgate fish market for driving hard deals it's gross the unfair but there you are that's life practice [Music] Rogers secured a meeting with the Market's biggest Trader Don CeSar the king of Chiles a man with a reputation even more fearsome than his own you're known throughout Central Market for your chillies if you're in my position what would you start off with because I'm going to put a nice view quid into it 5 000 pounds is competitive I think without a doubt you could make money here this is vast today they tell me there's 300 000 punters coming in think about that gentlemen you only have to serve a very small percentage and you go home with a few more potatoes then you started off adios but Roger's not the only one to spot an opportunity foreign [Music] it's the morning of Day of the Dead a traditional Mexican Festival to remember those who've died it's one of the busiest trading days in the Market calendar [Music] 500 000 people are expected in central today most looking for one thing beautiful show here beautiful they are like your wife they're beautiful the name of the flower is simple to chill I don't speak many foreign language in fact I don't speak any and it's not very easy I've got to get that across to these guys that you know my limitations are limited some pursue chill flowers a Mexican Marigold are traditionally used to decorate homes for the festival what's his Rock Bottom price tell him I don't mean to be mean but I've got to try to sell them a profit 40 pesos we were here well Before Dawn Edge in the middle of the bloody night but um now there's a lot more punters about flowers have been taken off fans very very quickly they go over Here There and Everywhere these are going out like well there's truck after truck Roger's business plan is to buy wholesale here transport them into the main market and sell them on as bouquets to retail planters for a tidy profit can you tell me that you'll only make a few quid if he buys at the right price there are deals done obviously but um I think the asking price is literally the buying price thinking Now's the Time to move what is the price that you'd like to charge me for each bandage piece could you do it at 45 20 please no my last possible bid would be 45. I appreciate that 45 done the deal is done 1000 Pesos 50 Quid of his stake for 10 bales and we haven't even reached our destiny I mean how far we've got to go this is unbelievable and we're still in the market he's been offered floor space in one of Central's busiest aisles by watermelon Trader Juan Carlos Perez Rogers banking on the passing trade paying premium prices for his repackaged flowers [Music] who will buy my beautiful flowers [Music] we've Now set them out and I know nothing about flowers but I actually think we've done a fantastic job they look the bollocks if we don't sell these then something's wrong [Music] flawless [Music] Flores IA most people look at me as if I'm mad they're probably right ah yes okay well done marvelous okay thank you lovely just one sale in one hour but a quick Spanish lesson should make all the difference back to low [Music] puzzle and remember is barato means cheap ah flawless battery so raise basily from Journal Torres not to see oh marvelous you are helping me thank you very much my brother reverting back to English trade begins to pick up did you not speak Spanish not much where did you come from I come from England England yes England this is a wonderful business uh no fish I wish I could speak their language I could sell a lot in five minutes good man that's for my girlfriend or my wife or your wife and this is for your mother if I was one of their own they wouldn't hesitate thank you very very much you've helped me out of trouble Roger's last customers asked if he'll be observing Day of the Dead well well I never even heard you haven't it's not it is that we don't have it in England I think that would be wonderful I'd love to come thank you my name is Ignacio and your sister don't say it's a lovely name thank you good luck by the end of the day half the stock is left unsold we got our ass back today heartbreaking in the way disappointing because I worked very hard put on a wonderful show so next time I do it I'll have to try to get a contact somebody who can speak the lingo I feel then I've got more of a chance thank you [Music] Roger's heading to dulce's house to observe Day of the Dead with her family a bit apprehensive to be honest with you you know the Day of the Dead of being English it's not your normal traditional thing but um I'm looking forward to it as well hello good evening thank you from the starters how old is this young lady six six lovely as is tradition the family has prepared the favorite food and drink of relatives who have died it's wonderful that you've put all this lovely food on I think it's a fabulous celebration and I'm so glad that you welcome me here today thank you very much the altar is decorated with the same pursue chill flowers and offerings of food and drink [Music] tradition is many of the gifts of Adele says father who died six years ago this man obviously had very good taste is foreign you did your very best as a daughter so you should be very proud of yourself and I'm sure your father would also be very proud of you I lost somebody very close to me her name was Patricia and she was a great woman I only lost her six months ago she had a heart attack and um I thought it would be nice to bring something that they loved they loved asparagus so in remembrance of her God bless her um I brought these along and I'd like you please to put them on your altar and in remembrance of her companions yes [Music] this is a lovely way to celebrate it thank you very very much thank you foreign partner Patricia had never traveled around the world she hadn't had big holidays what a shame she isn't here because she would have loved it you know you plan things in life and they don't always work out it's after yourself thank you for your hospitality we will return Roger's first day as a Trader in the world's biggest Market has been a long and difficult one to do something that you've never done before [Music] and of course the bloody thing that makes it so difficult is the language barrier believe it or not I miss Penny's gate I mean I've been there for 50 odd years it's all I know I miss home ah food's entirely different I love a cup of tea that way I die for a cup of tea I've never been the one to throw the salad and I never will but this is a [ __ ] hard challenge [Music] Central diabasto is a City built on fruit and veg trucks arrive throughout the night workers from 2 am each day seventy thousand people come to work here and those who feed the city need food themselves the market has hundreds of cafes restaurants and taco bars [Music] then there are those that hire out Diablos and there's the odd crate to hire too [Music] they're assigned writers repairers and shoe shiners [Music] millions of dollars are deposited each day in the 17 on-site Banks but the market like the city is a dangerous place despite a police force of 700 armed officers there have been hundreds of kidnappings somewhere foreign there's no easy way out [Music] after failing with his flowers he's come to meet El Gallo a market veteran of 30 years Mundo I don't know Mercado Diego Mercado La Gente instruments crucially for Roger El Gallo is a gun for hire he's not on the right side of 60 but nevertheless I don't want to marathon runner I want a Salesman what's your name [Music] is you're my man's success see that's great what you just did there he broke up our conversation because he had a customer there he had a sale that's what I like to see [ __ ] anything else they come first and he's bang on right that's what he's got to do he's here to sound that's what I wanted to do for me to confine me Las Vegas recent rain has reduced the Market's onion Supply and prices are high but El Gallo knows where to buy them cheap right on their doorstep okay okay on the surface Central de abasto is one single Market yet because of its size around it smaller informal markets exist Savvy buyers can make a profit in the heart of central having bought cheaper elsewhere [Music] this is elgayo's plan what goes on here the cheap onion Supply is not what Roger had had in mind low quality produce rejected on arrival by the Market's Traders is dumped here but in central diabasto one man's waist is another man's wage these workers mainly indigenous Mexicans have migrated to the city drawn by the Market's need for unskilled labor is Michael I never realized okay this was a part of the market I'm actually sad to see it there must be 50 people here working their butts off and they're scratching a living um I actually feel choked of course it's tough it's a part of Mexico I never realized existed is once the onions have been dried those that can be salvaged are taken to the processing area is that Mala yeah yeah now I understand Rafael used to work in construction but now at the market she owns around four pounds a day how do you make ends meet now I mean for what you're earning now really it must be very very difficult the biggest food market in the world it seems unbelievable that she's only eaten every other day with all this food all this produce around her it doesn't seem right to be honest with you with such a cheap supply of onions and knowing his purchase will support people like Raphael Roger does a deal okay 170. one and a half tons of onions for just under 500 quid but this trade has not been easy if I could I would give them a lot more I've got to go and sell them and it's my business to make a profit I've been doing it for many many years sympathy ends somewhere and they've made a living out of them good luck to them now I've got to do the same [Music] the ply remains short El Gallo and Roger should be in profit tomorrow [Applause] [Music] just after Dawn Roger and El Gallo prepare to start selling they're not the only ones all my eyeline keeps seeing is onions onions onions more onions remember this is a big market and there's a lot of people who eat them but [ __ ] me you've never seen so many onions in all their life but never mind nothing ventured nothing going the market has been short of onions for weeks but now the rains have stopped you can't move for them a change in the weather has scuppered El Gallo's plans product is no one had seen the glut coming Central runs on competition not collaboration Traders don't share information making it impossible to predict fluctuations foreign ERS overnight but nevertheless tomorrow's another day let's go let's go okay come on despite the Market's onion Surplus now guyo marks them up by a third it's not long before the first customer arrives what's One Bank okay rhyme out of bill please well done okay well done hey foreign okay you've made a profit not a law profit but you've made a profit and not only that he bought 10. yeah the lower price attracts more business yes okay with just a third of their stocks sold the Market's thinning out El Gallo still has faith Avenger gracias adios angudas okay but Roger is not a Believer well I'm amazed what the man's thinking I'm amazed at what he's saying any good product sells itself taken from me I've been in the game longer than he has right and I know these onions love them eat them do what you like it makes no difference the only people is going to sell these onions is cuantas it's midday and the end of the Market's Peak Trading there's little hope of any more sales uh I'll be flighted to be honest with you he hasn't turned out quite as well as we hoped yet but these things happen at times uh I had that gut feeling early there wasn't enough people here is only a handful of buyers are left in the market all looking for a bargaining the customer's offer is lower than Roger's original purchase price if you give me another 10 we can overdo 10 10 more yeah okay 117. that's foreign the price agreed Rogers ensured he won't lose on the deal and there's more good news yeah 30 bucks okay what a pleasure for your attack do you do this afternoon my friend it was the pleasure in the experience just before closing a last minute customer wants seven bags my last final offer to end the day to do you a favor because they cost me 170. 130 that's it is please don't come back I love you it's lovely to see you I don't even want to see your face again dropping the price to clear the bulk of their stock Roger and El Gallo have sold all but two of their 60 bags well I know you might find this bit silly but we've had a miracle and whether you believe in miracles or not we have had a miracle because we were going nowhere at 12 o'clock there was nobody else walking up and down nobody else was selling nothing and then bang bang bang we've got two left maybe he's got something we haven't man though Roger hasn't made a profit he has recouped his original investment foreign foreign [Music] Roger must return to his business in billingsgate try to buy one or two items which I've done I've only bought small I haven't heard much I haven't lost much now is the time to take the dive in the world's biggest Market if you want to make big money you have to take big risks you've got to think big you've got to go big so now I'm going to look what is it the Mexican Eats every day with his dinner [Music] Chili's the hottest product in the market the average Mexican consumes 14 kilos of chilies a year every day trucks bringing up to 4 000 tons and one man is estimated to sell 30 percent of all the chilis eaten in Mexico [Music] I mean at the moment what's the situation with Chili's is there an abundance of chillies in Mexico that's a lot of chilies is our advises that instead of buying his chilies within the market Roger could increase his profit margin by buying direct from a farmer foreign surprised by the scale of Roger's ambition Don CeSar has a proposition is okay okay good luck it's been an education okay alcohol [Music] you do realize I can do my money here big time we can't get legged over I mean he's given us good advice but we are going in the [ __ ] deep room you know we might come out of this one [ __ ] burning our fingers and I mean burning them but nevertheless let's go to the countryside [Music] I'm investing 5 000 pounds that's a lot of money five thousand pounds it can be gone just like that now I've got to be on the ball I know what I want and I know what I'm going to get [Music] I'm going to take the ball by the horns and I'm going to go for it so everybody says Roger Barton he's a gambler [Music] some I've won and some have lost [Music] internet is foreign foreign [Music] [Music] Roger and Delgado have hired their own truck heading to a farm in Rio Verde a thousand kilometers north of Mexico City if I was here for longer I could take my time learn maybe a bit more I've got to jump into the deep end if I'm going to do anything I've got to do it and I've got to do it now sometimes I know where to put my money in I've got the gut feeling though today that it's going to be okay [Music] on arrival the farmer Senor Tonio is there to meet them he wasn't expecting an Englishman in a pinstriped suit I'm just going to take my shoes off Nothing Stops a good Englishman that's what we're going to do avente okay let's go yeah before any deal can be done Roger wants to check the quality of the Harvest is Mercado is Mexico I want to make sure those ones over there are as good as these I'm going to check it all out before I part with my money I want to have a good look come on Atlantic come on Roger's confident the quality will please Don CeSar who he hopes will be his number one buyer they are the polyps I tell you that these are the bollocks once these hit the market they'll be snapped up I've got no worry no danger whatsoever I want to put my money in would you put your money in foreign knowing they are fetching 20 in the market today it's time to start negotiating is we've come a long way as one businessman to another I'd like you to slap my hand and we can pay 17 but that would be the absolute Max weather sovereign suppressive nobody can tell how many chillies will be in that market tomorrow morning one person who will know is Don CeSar donzes are it's Roger speaking um I'm in the chili fields at the moment but dancers are is not taking Roger's calls can you phone me back as soon as possible gracias okay an answer he won't pick up the damn phone so now I'm absolutely blind blind I'm way out on my own here in the middle of nowhere it's freezing cold the top man I can't get hold of him if ever there was a moment I wanted somebody to pick up the phone this is it but he ain't picked up the phone so now I've got to go in I've got no choice it's jump in the deep end and hope for the best for Roger this is a 2 000 kilometer round trip driving home with an empty truck is not an option I'll go and I have come a long way a long long way to buy your chilies I'm going to bid you the biggest bid I can possibly beat 19 pesos don't let me walk away for one pesos that's not good business will you please accept my bid of 19 pesos Tonio says he must consult with his business partner about the new office well if he wants to speak to him all well and good we'll be in the truck waiting for his answer Dinero he is [Music] we've got to do is and five ton here it is now we'll say all we're going to do now is get it backed up and open the doors about half inch either side Christ Alive's not the word come in come on come on let's go we're here El Gallo's negotiated a space in Corridor P the Market's Prime chili trading aisle three in the morning but stock is already moving fast it's absolutely fly now it's unbelievable and I'm still yet to see any chilies that I've got so we've got hell of a chance our dinner I feel good yeah Rogers five tons on the Lorry will fill 500 boxes what a wonderful sight beautiful look at them El Gallo sets a modest price to get stock moving I think we're gonna have to be realistic here okay it's not if we're sitting on like just a couple of boxes we've got a [ __ ] truck life is foreign but nothing is sold for the next two and a half hours hey amigo and the one person who could change their fortunes entirely has not yet arrived is the man I'm waiting for because he is the biggest chili man in the market if the price is right he could buy the whole truckload of me which would be wonderful would you like to have a look at my chillies because they are very very good can you give me 20. 19 pesos okay tell you what we do Rogers made a loss of one peso per kilo on the deal but his day could get a lot worse if what Jesus is saying about the competition is true hey Gene same as ours very very similar I've got one worse up here come and have a look at this nothing wrong with my eyesight what does that say 15 50. I've now just shipped myself the size and scale of the market has caught Roger out I mean I didn't think there was going to be that many chillies here today there's nine Lorry loads and that's not signed there isn't any more I haven't got time to look anywhere else it could be another night they're forced to drop the price to 18. now that's exactly what I thought might happen the words got around but we're taking a little bit less now they're beginning to come in Jesus wants a nice few boxes at 80 and I've took it on the stairs okay despite some quick sales trade isn't good by midday they have just over half of their five tons remaining okay [Music] Royer how are you how are you okay okay coming up look to the Commerce yes that has a business yes they're good quality what price would you want if you could give me 18 for them I'd be satisfied no and I was hey to make a profit I'd have had to go 20. okay I pay for all the whole lot old yes 14. Christ um that's what we call him Billy's gate a bit of a tough bid um should we say 17 just start up there I offer you the good price because tomorrow maybe go down decide decide slowly slow to take the law okay the minimum I would take and this is my last offer and I hope you'll say yes we'll be 15. but after that I'll have to walk away I don't want to let you go you don't have to you don't let me go I never returned I'm not asking for a lot just one peso selling at this price would lose him one thousand pounds Roger takes time out is [Music] Mexicanos Dinero pero is give me a filthy page he's not playing the game he's got us on the floor and he's not going to let us up they're hard meant to do business with that's why they are multi-millionaires and they'll have no mercy by following his every move over the past 24 hours Don CeSar has seen Roger coming over as much as I hate to take his bed and I mean it my blood is boiling but I'm in no position not to take his bid the deal's done 14. that's all yeah 14. thank you well I can't say thank you but I I am happy and make a business with you thank you sir okay go ahead Dinero you know my moves from the minute I left Mexico City yesterday even where I was what I was doing and how much I was buying how much I was paid um thank you Roger's time in the market is over he's lost nearly 2 000 pounds a nine and it will take me a couple of weeks to get over it it's not the money it's a thing called Pride and I don't like to get beat en [Music] installation is [Music] Al Mercado it's been an education all right I might have lost a nice view Quinn but I don't know I've learned a lot it's full of hard-working gems like El Gallo thank God for him it's also a hot bed of rose and Rose's businessmen I suppose in the end the bastard of billingsgate has learned that there are bastards in every bloody Market good luck to the guy foreign [Music]

Channel: Taste

Views: 299,872

Keywords: Our Taste, Documentary, Food Documentary, Full Episode, Full Length Episodes, Food, Cuisine, Recipe, Cooking, Cooking Show, Meal, Chef, Restaurant, Vegetarian, Vegan, Cooking Hacks, Food Hacks, Cooking Videos, Cooking Competition, Cooking Ideas, Food Ideas, Easy Recipes, International, Travel, Food Around The World, Tasty, Meals, Desserts, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch, Food From Around The World, British Food, American Food, Foodie, How To Cook, Cooking For Beginners, fruit and veg, market, mexico

Id: AoCvlQChe4Q

Length: 51min 46sec (3106 seconds)

Published: Wed May 31 2023