You’ve seen the faces of Fiesta Farmers in the aisles; here’s your chance to get to know our awesome staff up close.
Meet Carmen Papia.
Nearly four decades ago, Carmen was a local high school kid who walked into Fiesta for a part-time job. Carmen landed the job of produce clerk.
Today, the kid from Essex Street is Fiesta’s Produce Buyer. He goes to the market every day, picking the freshest produce around. He’s the guy you can thank for Fiesta’s incredible produce selection and quality.
Here’s how he answered the Fiesta Five.
1. What keeps you working at Fiesta Farms?
Working at Fiesta isn’t just a job – it’s being part of a family. Mr. Virgona (Joe) brought me in and believed in me. When I started, I thought it would be a temporary gig.
38 years later, it’s the people I work with who keep me here. We’re working together to make this store the best around, and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team.
2. What hidden secrets do you have for grocery shoppers?
Two secrets for people shopping the produce aisle:
- Shop what’s in season: Local produce is always the freshest and best quality. It can be local to Ontario or local to somewhere else. For example, in the summer, Ontario peaches are unbeatable. In the winter, the best watermelons come from Texas or Florida. I’m at the market every day sourcing the best local produce for the shop.
- When produce is on sale, grab it! A price drop means there’s an oversupply of certain items. There’s nothing wrong with produce that’s on sale. If strawberries are $2.99, it just means many strawberries are coming into at the market at once. Scoop it up when you get the chance.
3. What hasn’t changed about Fiesta?
We’ve always had the best customers.
Our customers are friendly, happy, and really into food. They’re in a great mood when they’re in the store. Customers drive from outside the city to shop here because they love the product and the vibe. People stop and chat with each other in the aisles, share tips, and talk to staff for advice about what to buy that day.
Hands down, our customers are the best!
4. What’s your favourite aisle?
The produce aisle! The colours in the produce aisle blow me away. There’s this vibrant mix of yellows, greens, and oranges—and everything looks beautiful and fresh.
We arrange things so the produce colours pop.
The produce section is also the store’s heart–it’s front and center. The produce aisle sets the tone for the whole Fiesta shopping experience.
5. What’s your favourite food memory?
Food was such a key part of growing up in my family. We’re Italian!
My favourite food memory is my mom’s Christmas dinner. The table is just packed! There’s veal and chicken cutlets, potatoes, salads with oranges and apples. My sister makes butternut squash soup. There’s always too much food, but that’s how we like it. Even now, when I visit my mom, the food she makes brings back all those memories.
Learn more about other Fiesta Farmers: