According Manuel Dominguez, Mayor of Los Realejos, «the project arises in 2019 from the hand of the Community Table of Icod el Alto. It was intended to honor the work of the cooks, both those who died and the eight who still lived. The members of this community table carried out an in-depth fieldwork gathering information, house by house, collecting photographs and anecdotes, paying them public tribute in an emotional act ”.
The Councilor for Citizen Participation, Macarena González (PP)He adds that, «as a result of this, the idea of creating a Cultural Association arises that ensures this ethnographic heritage of great sentimental value for all the icodalteros and realejeros. The exhibition will try that everyone who comes to this room knows the work of these vendors and their families. In addition, the intention is that the exhibition and its promoters, also make this trade known in educational centers and to other associations, at the same time that it can also become a tourist attraction ».
The Consistory recalls that they worked «from Icod el Alto, touring the La Orotava Valley, or crossing the summit to reach the southern towns, enduring the cold, the wind and sleeping in caves, barns or under the stars. They made these hard journeys of up to more than a week to support their families. The pigs bought the piglets in Icod, La Guancha or San Juan de la Rambla. Afterwards, they would go out to sell them tucked inside foxes incorporated in the saddlebags of the mules ».
