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A strange procession carrying the image of Saint Peter on a litter sets out from the church of Cristóbal Colón in the Ecuadorian region of El Carchi. The effigy has been decked out in gold and garnet and the faces of the bearers, who are dressed in soccer uniforms, glow with a blend of faith and expectation. Sprinkled with holy water and carrying a soccer ball, more than 100 farmers accompany the procession after long days dedicated to their potato fields. They have taken time off from their work to pay homage to the patron saint of their village, and to take part in a soccer tournament.
Throughout the day, once the traditional Saturday market is over, the soccer teams of San Gabriel, Cristóbal Colón, Santa Marta de Cuba, Julián Andrade, Huaca and La Libertad will compete for the coveted Copa San Pedro, or Saint Peter's Cup. In El Carchi, the potato is not only a staple; it is a source of prosperity. And with good reason, for it has served the region well. This is reflected in the standard of education enjoyed by the people who live here: only 8 percent of them are illiterate, in comparison with the average of 13.4 percent for Latin America and the Caribbean (as of December 1998, International Institute for Literacy).
The potato crop must withstand the rigors of climate and torrential rain as well as numerous pests and diseases. Visions of profits, however, spur hundreds of families to take the risk. In the words of a local refrain: "The potato is like the lottery: if you get lucky, you'll have a new car; if not, you end up with nothing". Every Friday and Saturday, dozens of merchants clutch thick wads of money as they await the arrival of trucks from nearby villages, loaded with potatoes for sale; the most sought-after variety is the one called "Super Chola". These distributors set the prices for Ecuador’s main potato markets: El Carchi, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cañar and Pichincha.
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