Spotlight on Centenario: Fruteria Lupita

Looking for fresh, organic produce? Frutería Lupita offers just-picked fruits and veggies from local growers.

By Fern Corraini

If you live in El Centenario you probably already know The Bacon Guy, The Cheese Lady and The Chicken Man…our very own purveyors of quality food made or grown locally. Today, let me introduce you to The Fruit Lady: Guadalupe (Lupita) Ascencio. Lupita owns and operates Frutería Lupita, an organic fruit and veggie market located just one block off Highway 1 on Calle Francisco Javier Mina ( the street just across the highway from El Mezquite Verde Restaurant). 

Lupita is a thoroughly charming woman who grew up in the fruit/veggie business. Her father owned the iconic Mercantil Coromuel, the first frutería in the Mercado Madero in downtown La Paz. Today, Lupita offers just-picked produce from local growers in Conquista Agraria just north of La Paz. Erika, an organic grower, is a seasonal supplier from San Juan de la Costa. Now that’s LOCAL! The mangos and chiles come from the Todos Santos/Pescadero area, and, as is normally the case in BCS, the avocados come from the mainland state of Nayarit and bananas from Colima.

You’ll find more than just fresh produce at Lupita’s frutería. The market also offers organic eggs, local honey, fruit candies and Lupita’s homemade salsas, beans, and more. What a treat it is to go home from Lupita’s with homemade quacamole, pico de gallo and totopos! Too bad she doesn’t make margaritas to go.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Lupita and her husband, Jonathon, and their two children, Daniel and Daniela, have worked on the frontlines doing whatever they can to help the hungry in our community, primarily shopping, bagging and delivering hundreds of food hampers. They are kind, caring people. In supporting this local business, not only are you getting fresh local produce without leaving Centenario, but you are also helping people who help other people. 

So, go for the produce, but stay for Lupita’s fascinating stories! I know you will want to hear them, so bring an app or a translator.  Ask her to tell you about her in-laws’ Tacos Los Claros and the introduction of the classic Baja fish taco to La Paz!

 

• Hours: Open 8am – 6pm, Monday – Saturday
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lupita.ascencio.1654
• Location: https://goo.gl/maps/NSEh9meDc7Mj1nyCA

Fern Corraini is a veteran traveler and explorer who moved to La Paz from Canada fourteen years ago and is happy to call Mexico home. In addition to her international travels, Fern has been an English teacher in Canada and Guadalajara, a customs officer, a beekeeper, a sandblaster, a travel rep in the Dominican Republic and a motel owner. When she’s not busy keeping Baja Life Realty organized as our administrator, Fern loves to cycle, visit the beach and spend time with her two rescue cats. She loves La Paz and firmly believes that the taco is the perfect food.