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Gorontalo's Creative and Eco-Friendly Ambuwa Market
WINDONESIA May 17, 2024
Scenery of Ambuwa Market in South Huntu Village, South Bulango District, Bone Bulango Regency, Gorontalo Province. (TribunGorontalo/Nur'ain).
The Huntu Art District community in South Huntu Village, South Bulango District, Bone Bulango Regency, Gorontalo Province has once again organized the Ambuwa Market event. It is a culinary market showcase of Gorontalo's traditional foods that is held twice a month in South Huntu Village.
The Huntu Art District has designed Pasar Ambuwa to include various engaging activities, not just focusing on food transactions. Those activities include traditional Gorontalo music performances and a unique buying and selling transaction concept.
Visitors who come to purchase food first need to exchange their money for a currency used within Pasar Ambuwa. The chosen currency is coconut shell tokens, which are valued at Rp6,000 per token.
Awaludin, the organizer of Ambuwa Market, explained that the usage of coconut shell tokens for transactions is a distinctive feature of the Huntu Art District community. They chose this transaction concept to make it easier for vendors to serve food hygienically.
"After sales, vendors can exchange these tokens at the cashier for cash," Awaludin informed on May 11, 2024.
Another interesting aspect of the Ambuwa Market is the prohibition on bringing plastic objects from outside the market. Instead, visitors are encouraged to bring their own food and drink containers.
Environmental awareness is a key objective for the Huntu Art District community in their organizing the Ambuwa Market. The organizers hope that many people will be inspired by it, and that similar events will be held in other places.
"The women selling here are also given training by involving them in a community food study program, which explains [to them] that we can be environmentally friendly by not using plastic," he said.
The knowledge gained from the community food education classes is expected to foster an environmentally friendly mindset in the local community.
"The further the raw materials used [are sourced from], the higher the carbon footprint. For example, if brought by plane, it [the materials] will create emissions and eventually pollution," he added.
According to Awaludin, the purpose of the event is to stimulate the local economy creatively and uniquely while also being environmentally friendly. That goal is decided in line with the Huntu Art District community's principle of "once we enter the market, we are the people."
Awaludin also explained that the Ambuwa Market was inspired by the Papringan Market in Temanggung Regency, Central Java, which is known for its strong traditional Javanese vibe. He then applied its concept in Gorontalo.
Source: gorontalo.tribunnews.com