Marika Sartino.
A store with natural and social values, this is the dream realized by Marika Sartino, an Italian with a always radiant smile who has conquered Crans-Montana. And that Crans-Montana conquered, while she was looking for the ideal place to settle with her child.
“Let your food be your only medicine,” professed Hippocrates, the great physician of the golden age of Pericles. An encouragement that is flourishing today, since we find organic stores almost everywhere. MarySam, in Crans-Montana, is one of them. There we meet Marika Sartino (42 years old) and her son Samuel (10 years old).
The love story between this Italian woman with a disarming smile and the Haut-Plateau began in the 1980s: “My father lived here, and I discovered skiing there during my school holidays. Love at first sight! I also loved summer: walks in nature and this incredible smell of pure air mixed with that of pine trees and mushrooms that we went to pick in the forest.
Au marché de Domodossola
His baptismal godfather, a merchant, sold leather jackets and clothing made in Italy in the popular Domodossola market. Young Marika was present at the family stand every Saturday. “That’s where I got to know all these Valais people who came to our house on weekends, because at the time, we were offering something truly authentic and quality. Everything has changed now with the massive arrival of Chinese products.”
After traveling extensively in Switzerland, from Ticino to Graubünden, via Friborg and Vaud, Marika asked herself some questions. And for good reason: she was pregnant with Samuel. “Becoming a mother automatically meant offering the best to my child. And there, Crans-Montana naturally imposed itself on me: security, quality school, diversity of activities. It was obvious: we would be happy here!” In fact, they were, if we are to believe the portrait that Marika Sartino paints of the commune: “The nature is magnificent, wild, and at the same time, it is a small town, with cafes, restaurants, cultural outings. And then, for me, that’s the most important thing: there are the people. Very different from me, a little shy at first, but very faithful when they open their hearts to you.”
Building on short circuits
Professionally, the young woman decided to follow her dreams and her intuition. “I found that we were living in a system that was going in circles. People cared about their nice cars, their vacations, the brands of each of their purchases. I wanted to act: it’s my rebellious personality.”
His idea: to create a food store based exclusively on short circuits, highlighting local products. “The earth has been generous to us, each bud corresponds to a natural medicine. You can heal yourself by eating healthily. So my store is actually an education project for my son. This is why I called him by our two names: Mary and Samuel. It was also a way of respecting the cycles of nature, by promoting the work of local farmers, who have become my friends.”
Gardens of Ossola
From the start, Marika’s range of products appealed to locals. Their preferences? “Organic breads from a local baker. Even the flour for my pizza dough comes from Saint-Léonard. Local label also for eggs, chicken, lamb, trout, as well as medicinal herbs and cosmetics. The second hit is fruits and vegetables. I complete my regional offering with my dad’s organic production on the two and a half hectares that he acquired for his retirement in Oira (Italy), which they call the Ossola Gardens there. Without forgetting my famous Italian Senatore Cappelli pasta, with a double organic label, synonymous with very high quality.”
Nothing is lost, everything is cooked
A logical extension of a passion for beautiful products, Miss Sartino is a true cordon bleu. “MarySam is a store dedicated to short circuits and zero waste. I am uncompromising on this. So, I order vegetables that are picked the same day for the next day, and I cook anything that could expire on my stalls. I invent recipes. I let my creativity express itself. Result: my ready meals are falling apart like hotcakes. It must be said that I take care of all the details. For example, I prepare a cake where ripe banana replaces the sugar. My pride and my reward is that Samuel now understands my approach. My son is the driving force behind my commitment.”
Help your neighbor
It’s impossible to understand Marika’s perpetual smile and kindness without discussing the role of spirituality in her life: “Meditation and direct dialogue with God are important to me. Every morning I bless my work, my clients and all my loved ones. I live by and for humans. I try to help my neighbor. The money comes later. I therefore offer retirees and AI beneficiaries organic food baskets at a reduced price and free delivery. And when I come across people who only have a very small budget, I adapt and prepare fresh baskets corresponding to the amount they have, without any financial benefit for me.
By Jean-François Fournier
