A vibrant celebration of Hispanic and Latin culture unfolded at the Watauga County Farmers Market on Saturday morning as Día Latino returned, featuring a new salsa-making competition for the first time. The event, a collaboration between the Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IJC) and The Meeting Place—a project of Q’Pasa Appalachia—aimed to offer locals an opportunity to immerse themselves in a distinct subculture and broaden their cultural horizons.
The salsa contest, held from 10 to 11:30 a.m., invited market attendees to sample freshly prepared salsas and cast their votes for a favorite. Ten community members participated, bringing diverse recipes with flavor profiles unique to regions such as Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Mexico. Voting required a small donation, with proceeds benefiting both the IJC and The Meeting Place. Michelle Smith, director of the Watauga County Farmers Market, noted that the market has hosted Día Latino since 2022, but highlighted this year as particularly special due to the addition of the salsa competition. Smith emphasized the market’s belief that all cultures in the Boone community have "something beautiful to contribute" and expressed honor in hosting the event.
Beyond the culinary competition, the celebration immersed visitors in authentic culture through music and dance. Latin Dance Boone presented a salsa dance demonstration, inviting observing market-goers to join in and learn the steps. Later, with a large audience gathered, two members of Las Rosas y Claveles gracefully performed a traditional folkloric dance to "Un Poco Loco" from the movie "Coco." Las Rosas y Claveles, described as a local bilingual folkloric group, is known for its extravagant, colorful, and flowing dresses, presenting traditional Mexican dances that captivate audiences with their cultural richness. The event was filled with a colorful array of bright fabrics, the aroma of fresh salsa, and traditional Latin music accompanying the vibrant turns of dancing dresses.
The event also served vital community needs, with the IJC selling tamales to raise funds for its emergency program. Sarah Donovan, an IJC board member, explained that all money raised from tamale sales supports local families impacted by immigration. Donovan noted that the fund helps families who may become nervous due to the presence of immigration agents in the area, which can lead to people staying home, missing work, and falling behind on bills. Additionally, the High Country Community Health's migrant farm worker health program hosted a booth at the market. Donovan indicated that this group works to create health outreach programs for local migrant farm workers and educates the public about their significant contributions to the local agricultural economy. She pointed out that many people enjoy market produce without realizing much of it was grown by migrant workers, emphasizing the importance of this awareness. Market director Michelle Smith further connected the new salsa contest to the local community, noting it was a perfect opportunity to highlight both the Hispanic and Latin community and the local farmers who supply many of the ingredients.
One of the primary objectives for the market in partnering with the IJC and The Meeting Place was to genuinely reflect and celebrate all communities it aims to represent. The Farmers Market strives to be a place that strengthens the bond among High Country residents as a unified community. Yolanda Adams, co-founder of Q’Pasa Appalachia, reflected on this sentiment, stating that while media and news can sometimes divide, events like Día Latino fill her heart with the understanding that people from different countries, backgrounds, or languages can come together and find common ground.
