Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Old Town Farmers Market-Tianguis Cultural (OTFM-TC) is a fun-filled "make it, bake it, grow it" North American style market that celebrates the tradition and culture of Mexico's outdoor tianguis markets. Every season, over 100,000 national and international shoppers come out to scoop up farm-fresh produce, baked goods, artisan products and ready-to-eat international fare.

OTFM-TC is also a registered non-profit/association civil organization, focusing on the "buy local" movement as well as entrepreneurial and community development.

One of the organizations they support is Artisans of Madre Selva, a cooperative of women who live in underprivileged and impoverished communities near Vallarta's old garbage dump. Many of them work at the dump as recyclers, spending long days to earn a pay check for their families.

A few years ago, New Beginnings set out to provide its members - and their families - other avenues of earning a living. The result? Artisans of Madre Selva. The hope was that these women - and their children who often cut school to work beside them - would have an alternative income-generating opportunity. The first project? Simple crochet necklaces. As their skills grew, the talents and creativity of Artisans of Madre Selva became more evident. (You can see this by the wide variety of products available today.)

However, success came at a cost.

The Artisans of Madre Selva faced a great number of educational and emotional obstacles. Many had not completed school and did not understand English. Others had trouble with teamwork, having focused only on themselves for survival. Still there were those who were puzzled by the concept of success, haunted by the cycle of poverty.

But despite the challenges, the Artisans of Madre Selva prospered.

New Beginnings began teaching English as well as teamwork and trust skills. They made sure the women learned how to rely on one another for a common goal. Some even learned how to teach others. What's more, New Beginnings offered business basics: supply acquisitions, production management, inventory control, quality control, marketing and product presentation.

Today, the Artisans of Madre Selva are all registered business owners. They have gone from being invisible to becoming successful entrepreneurs with clients from all over the world. They are fully empowered, caring for themselves and their families. Now these women hold their heads high, confident in their abilities to improve the quality of their lives.

And their families are delighted! Not only are they inspired, but they now enjoy every day conveniences, such as electricity and washing machines. But more importantly, the children are able to stay in school.

The OTFM-TC is pleased to have contributed in part to the success of Artisans of Madre Selva over the past 5 seasons. The market provided the first significant entrepreneurial experience for the women by offering a hands-on environment to learn and grow.

Join us this Saturday at Lazaro Cárdenas Park for live music, tasty edibles, artisan products, and of course, Artisans of Madre Selva jewelry!

Located in Lazaro Cárdenas Park, kitty-corner to Daiquiri Dick's on Olas Atlas, the Old Town Farmers' Market-Tianguis Cultural is open every Saturday from 9:30 am to 2 pm from November 1 to April 25. For only $10 pesos an hour, you can park in the garage directly beneath the plaza. Or you can take a taxi or public bus, which stops along Pino Suarez Street, just steps from the Market. For market updates, please visit OldTownFM.com, and "like" us on Facebook.

Click HERE to learn more about the Puerto Vallarta Old Town Farmers' Market.