Description

Friday market in San Francisco El Alto in the department of Totonicapán, Guatemala. From the 16th century onwards, the Spanish introduced domestic animals unknown to the natives into the Americas, but which they began to breed for their own use. Cows, sheep, goats and pigs became common. Pigs rose to prominence during the colonial period and became a desirable source of income in many areas. In the lower regions, pigs are fed on bananas or cassava (palm lilies). They roam freely in the streets of towns and supplement their diet with whatever is available to them. However, in the mountainous areas of Guatemala, these animals are raised for the production of lard, which is sold to mestizos and whites. - 1977