Swap meets have a long tradition in California's San Joaquin Valley. These are markets of different sizes and characteristics that have changed and adapted to demographic changes in the Valley. This article has two interrelated objectives. The first is to describe swap meets' main characteristics and how they have changed, paying special attention to changes introduced by Mexican vendors and consumers. The second is to discuss the different strategies implemented by men and women of Mexican origin in order to open a business at the swap meets. This article is based on qualitative data gathered during four months of field work in southern Central Valley. Seventeen swap meets were studied in Kern, Tulare, Kings and southern Fresno Counties.

Swap meets California Mexican entrepreneurs international migration

international migration California business development Central Valley [California] Kern County Kings County [California] immigrant population Tulare County Fresno County fieldwork entrepreneur United States socioeconomic conditions North America commodity market San Joaquin Valley