Mexico City — On Sunday, September 28, 2025, the capital’s Plaza de Santo Domingo transformed into a vibrant celebration of maize, as the Feria del Maíz 2025 brought together farmers, chefs, artisans, and cultural advocates to honor the ancestral grain that has nourished Mexico for millennia.
Organized by the Colectivo Maíz and supported by local government and Indigenous organizations, the fair showcased over 60 varieties of native corn, including blue, red, purple, and speckled kernels cultivated across the country. Farmers from Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, and the State of Mexico displayed their harvests, emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity and resisting genetically modified strains.
Visitors enjoyed traditional dishes such as tamales, tlacoyos, esquites, and atole, prepared using heirloom corn and regional techniques. Cooking demonstrations and workshops taught attendees how to nixtamalize corn and make tortillas by hand, while talks addressed food sovereignty, climate resilience, and Indigenous agricultural knowledge.
The fair also featured live music, folk dances, and storytelling sessions that highlighted maize’s spiritual and cultural significance. Children participated in educational games and crafts, learning about the life cycle of corn and its role in Mexican identity.
A central theme of the event was the defense of native corn against industrial agriculture. Activists distributed informational materials and called for stronger protections under national law.
The Feria del Maíz 2025 reaffirmed maize not just as a food source, but as a symbol of resistance, tradition, and unity. As one organizer put it, “To defend corn is to defend life.”
Source: El Universal
