A traditional cheese fair is set to take place in Cancún on May 17 and 18, featuring over 60 exhibitors showcasing a variety of food and beverages centered around queso de bola (ball cheese). Despite reported shortages and reduced sales limits, officials claim that there is no actual shortage of the product.
According to Delmar Briceño Valadez, president of the Peninsular Gastronomic Circuit, the perceived scarcity has been caused by commercial speculation from resellers. Barudi Imports, the country’s importer and distributor of queso de bola, has maintained a consistent price for the product in Chetumal at 340 pesos per unit.
However, some resellers have taken advantage of the situation by raising prices to as high as 750 or 800 pesos per piece. Briceño Valadez explained that this is due to reduced sales limits imposed on consumers, with each person now restricted to purchasing just one queso de bola.
The shortage was initially caused by problems at the factory in the Netherlands, where the traditional cheese is imported from. As a result, the arrival of new shipments began to decrease between March and April. This has led some resellers to buy up stock, with the intention of double-selling it at inflated prices.
Despite these challenges, Briceño Valadez assured that supply will be restored in June, with a new shipment expected to arrive next week. The queso de bola fair is set to take place from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on May 17 and 18 at Malecón Tajamar, offering an array of food, beverages, and family activities.
The event will also feature themed games such as the “Queso de Bola Lottery” and the board game “Marquesitas y ratón,” inspired by snakes and ladders with a culinary twist from the Iberian Peninsula. This marks the third edition of the fair, which has previously visited cities like Mérida, Campeche, Valladolid, Chetumal, and is now established as a platform to celebrate culture and regional cuisine centered around queso de bola.
The traveling circuit has become synonymous with celebrating traditional Mexican cuisine and its ability to reinvent itself with every bite.
Source: La Jornada Maya
