BY KHAMA LINCOLN in Gizo
THIS Christmas is the first time for elderly grandmother mother Irène Linge and her granddaughter to travel 237 Miles to sell mangos and melons in Gizo.
Her husband James is a regular face at Noro and Gizo market.
Ms Linge, her husband and her granddaughter, a high school student at Visale High school now spent two weeks at the western solomons headquarters, while James boarded MV Marina this week and returned home to Reilonga village in the Visale area of North west Guadalcanal.
Like most of the farmers in North west Guadalcanal, she usually sells Mangos and Melons in Honiara Municipal Market.
Travelling to Gizo on the vessel takes more than 24hours, and they had to wait for next morning at the last port before unloading their cargos. So, the family waited another night before start selling the fruits at the market.
Recently they unloaded 46 bags of melons and five trays of mango verities at Gizo market.
The Family spent $2000 dollars on freight for melon alone and $455 dollars for passenger’s one-way ticket per person.
The elderly mother appreciates Transport owners and security personals at Gizo market who helped with unloading and loading at the wharf and market. She also commended Gizo market as a safe place.
She said, people have respect, and they enjoy walking on public road around town at any time.
Ms. Linge’s selling prices range from $20 dollars to $70 dollars for melons and $3 dollars to $15 dollars for verities of mango fruits
“Our sales here is okay, we remain here while relatives send us melons and mangos.”
They spend nights with other vendors at a public hall referred to as MSG building, while doing their business.
“We’re sleeping in the cold to find money; and we send money back home for Christmas,” she said.
This month is a common mango season and the fruit is also her family’s usual source of income, to meet her children’s school fees, church contributions, support for health clinic, school and community fundraisings.
Wet Weather during the festive season is a challenge for the farmers, Linge said some of the melons and mangoes decay faster due to the rain throughout the week.
“We started to drop the prices because we want to return home soon.” She said.
Linge’s family is not the only travelling vendors from Guadalcanal. Various farmers from the country’s largest Island also dubbed as “land of milk and honey” occupied benches at the Gizo market throughout the year, with the same fruits as well as peanuts.
