Universidad del Sagrado Corazon
Santurce, Puerto Rico

Atabey
Informative Essay

Edgar Morell

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
-Georg Wihelm Freidrich Hegel

It is true that economic dissatisfaction has grown bigger over the last years in the island, leading to an overwhelming crisis that’s undertaking every financial and social aspect pertaining to puertorricans. Different political parties have tried to establish what could see like an answer to this predicament, evaluating traits common to different areas, possible resolutions to income and tax problems and even suggesting different models to acquire a more sustainable economic standard. The recent degradation of the islands bonuses and debts have affected not only it’s image worldwide, but also the liquidity of the already established enterprises that operate within.

Recession has defined the reality of former corporate workers, or government employees, as the case for the infamous “Ley 7”, leaving them unemployed, frustrated and in some cases bankrupt. People have lost houses, cars, goods acquired over time with savings and have been led to experience changes in their lifestyles to re-accommodate to this new era. Some have been drowned by their situation, where as a small growing niche has felt empowered by the crisis and decided to change this condition.

This rising phenomenon has been described my many economists and financial analysts as the era of the “micro-entrepreneurship”, “gig-life’ or “freelance economy”, and this singularity describes an estimated 14% of workers, that were self employed last year, according to the Office for National Statistics . There are many reasons as to why this rising economic rebellion has been successful and customers worldwide have been so approving of it. It caters to specific needs, it becomes personalized, it has unique characteristics and provides flexibility that can’t be attained at corporate level enterprises.

If we scale this uproar to this island’s reality, we would find some government funded initiatives that are intended to provide a sustainable platform for uprising entrepreneurs. Former Governor Luis Fortuño signed an executive project that would enable aspiring entrepreneurs with necessary tools to operate their business. Our client, took benefit from this opportunity and started her own, “on the road” kiosk for organic food, another sought after micro-enterprise. Her expectations are based solidly in her views of educating costumers to a healthier lifestyle while providing them with an unique eating experience.

Atabey is a organic food truck that began operations in September 2013, located in La Plaza Publica: Francisco M. Zeno at Cidra. It’s mission is to sell organic and healthy food in a way that is affordable, so this way it will create a physically healthy community. It’s mission is to be recognized in Cidra, as the first alternative when its time to eat in a healthy and nutritious way. Lately the young community is looking for ways to create a more healthy lifestyle, with all the differente excersices that are popular know. In Cidra, we don’t have that, specially with the older community. More than 50% of the population are over 50 years old and most of them have different health problems, Atabey is the alternative so they can eat something tasty but healthy, improving their lifestyle. Lucia Morales Berrios, is Atabeys owner. She has over eleven years of experience in the food industry She has work as an administrator of different restaurants and Don Quijote Pizza. Mrs. Morales graduated with a bachelor degree in Business Administration from the Turabo University in 1993. Later she won different certificates in Culinary Arts, Cake Contest, Breads and Sweets, among others.

Atabey operates Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. It doesn’t have any competition since is the only place, that serve organic and artisan food. It’s menu consist of natural juices, fruit smoothies, snacks, lunch and a daily menu. They already have a big group of costumers, the primary ones are working class and professionals that work around Cidra that and looking for a healthy lifestyle, followed by the visitors from other parts of Puerto Rico and visit Cidra and want to try something different; and last but not least, the young population that are changing their lifestyle into a better one.

Reference:

Rise of the Micro-Entrepreneurship Economy. Jamie Wong. http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679903/the-rise-of-the-micro-entrepreneurship-economy. Retrieved Febrary 18, 2014.