Quetzaltenango Department - Economy and Agriculture

Economy and Agriculture

The wide climatic variation within the department resulting from differences in altitude gives rise to a diverse range of agricultural products. These include apples, beetroot, cabbages, carrots, high quality coffee, common beans, maize, onions, peaches, plums, potatoes, radishes, turnips and wheat. Almolonga is the main producer of vegetables, both for the national market and for export, principally to Mexico and countries in Central America. Salcajá is known for its production of a fruit liquor called caldo de frutas ("fruit wine"). Other products of the department include woolen textiles, cotton, silk, ceramics, alcoholic beverages and flour.

Poorer high altitude areas of the department experience seasonal migration of workers to the Pacific lowlands in order to work on coffee, sugarcane and cotton plantations.

Municipality Principal agricultural products Non-agricultural products
Almolonga Vegetables, maize, common bean, pigs, sheep, cattle Textiles
Cabricán Vegetables, maize, common bean, broad bean, apples, wheat Limestone
Cajolá Maize, common bean, broad bean, wheat, pigs Textiles, bricks, pipes, pots, basins, shoes, ironwork, carpentry.
Cantel Maize, cabbage, onions, vegetables Textiles
Coatepeque Horses, cattle, coffee, maize, rice, sugarcane, cotton Minimal non-agricultural production
Colomba Coffee, cardamom, macadamia nuts, bananas, cattle Sandals
Concepción Chiquirichapa
El Palmar
Flores Costa Cuca
Génova
Huitán
La Esperanza
Olintepeque
Palestina de Los Altos
Quetzaltenango
Salcajá
San Carlos Sija
San Francisco La Unión
San Juan Ostuncalco
San Martín Sacatepéquez Maize, potatoes, vegetables Textiles, bricks, bread
San Mateo Potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, cattle Bricks, textiles, kitchen griddles
San Miguel Sigüilá Maize, oats, wheat, potatoes, broad beans, peaches Textiles, bricks, tiles
Sibilia Maize, potatoes, wheat, oats, barley, pigs Bricks, carpentry, metalwork, bread
Zunil Vegetables, poultry, cattle, pigs Textiles, bread, metalwork

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