Here are some sources for Latin American and Mexican produce and products: 

El Chaparral Meat Market, 2719 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, 703 276 8336, is the place for tender beef cut specially for fajitasand good Argentinian sausage.

Casa Lebrato, 1733 Columbia Rd NW, 202 234 0099, is another source for fajita meats. You'lll also find fresh plaintains or frozen tostones, and a number of West Indian supplies.

Todos Market, 14450 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Woodbridge, 703 490 4907, has a vast range of Latin American foodstuffs and spices, from dried Peruvian clams to Andean herbs (and air tickets to get there).

Moctec Mexican Products, 5328 46th Ave, Hyattsville, 301 699 0888, sells an excellent stock of Mexican foodstuffs.

Americana Grocery has a number of large supermarkets in VA and MD. They sell corn husks for tamales, banana leaves, yerba mate, crema de maiz and other Latin American specialties. But they have a proper butcher shop where you can specify what cuts you want from a large side of something. Along with Angus select beef, lamb, pork and chicken, they also carry goat, rabbit, quail and duck. As well as a wide choice of offal, they sell whole lamb, whole pigs and whole goat for that barbecue feast. Their range of sausages includes Mexican, Argentinian, Salvadorean and Spanish chorizo. In their liquor sections you'll find wines from Chile, Argentina, Spain and Portugal, and beers from Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, Bolivia and Portugal. VA: 13215 Occoquan Rd, Woodbridge, 703 497 6100; 6128 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, 703 671 9625; 10897 Main St, Fairfax, 703 934 0100. MD: 8541 Piney Branch Rd, Silver Spring, 301 495 0864; 1500 University Blvd E, Hyattsville, 301 434 8922;  900 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, 301 864 4870.

Warehouse International Market, 3815A S. George Mason Drive, Falls Church, 703 845 1526, stocks quinoa, dried potatoes, corn, fresh fruits and vegetables, Latin American wines, frozen mangos, passion fruit and others for good summer daiquiris. Their deli sells saltenas, the Bolivian meat turnover, and other ready-to-go food.

Las Americas Mercado Latino, 8651 16th St, Silver Spring, 301 588 0882, and 6303 New Hampshire Ave, Hyattsville, 301 559 2927, and Las Americas International Market, 785-E Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301 424 9550, all have a full range of Latin American and Caribbean ingredients and supplies, like piñatas for parties.

La Salvadorenita Grocery, 11417 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, 301 942 8126, and Brazilian Market, 11425 Grandview Ave, Wheaton, 301 942 8412 and both worth checking out.

Deli Spanish Market, 1309 Fifth St, 202 543 2729, sells Salvadoran dishes to take away.

Don Pepe's Cash & Carry, 300 Morse St, 202 544 2633, is a Latino butcher also selling cheese from Central America and South American sausages.

El Amigo Mercado Latino has been in the community for years, selling meats labeled for baking or for frying, some cooked home-made snacks and the balls of sweetened popcorn so popular in Latin America. 12214 Viers Mill Rd, Silver Spring, 301 929 8582.

Mercadito Ramos III is a little Latino market in the transplanted corner of Mexico and El Salvador running from South Glebe Rd almost to East Glebe Rd and filled with groceries and eat places for foods from that region. This market sells home-made tamales and other hot snacks by the check-out and has the usual run of dried and canned goods, along with a small supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, including two kinds of mango in season. It also stocks fresh meat, hot and mild sausages, and fish, though not sold on ice. Mexican music fills the small space. But the unexpected find is in the freezer: chocolate covered bananas on sticks. 4102 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, 703 837 9520.

Down at the wholesale market in North East Washington between New York and Florida Aves, are a number of outlets selling Latino foodstuffs also for sale retail:

Deli Spanish Market, 1309 Fifth St, 202 543 2729, makes Salvadorean dishes to take out.
Kang's Farms, 350 Morse St, 202 546 1911, sells fresh produce, chicken, fish whole, and a range of Latino dried goods, spices and sauces.
King Jimmy International Meat Market, 411 Morse St, 202 543 1190, sells goat, as well as the usual meats butchered to order.
Mexican Fruit, 1309 Fifth St, 202 431 1644, sells fresh fruit and veg.
U.S. Beef, 300 Morse St, 202 543 8320, wholesales beef and pork cut the Latino way, along with Guatemalan and Bolivian dried good specialties.

Posted on Monday 26th November 2007 in Americas & Caribbean, Markets