Middle Caicos Co-op
King's Road, Major Hill, North Caicos
Founded in 1998, the Middle Caicos Co-op is a guaranteed place to find handcrafted and authentic Turks and Caicos souvenirs. This not-for-profit enterprise has approximately 18 active artisans and promotes the traditional skill of straw work and basket weaving, helps artisans earn fair wages for their work, and encourages the cultural heritage of the islands.
An assortment of beautifully crafted accessories ranging from hats to bags, as well as household items like baskets and fans, is on display and available for purchase at the co-op.
Most baskets, bowls, placemats, and coasters are made from fanner grass, which grows locally along the shore and is collected, cleaned, and dried before it's used to make crafts. Some crafts like hats and bags are made from palm tops that are cut, dried in bundles, then slit into thread size for sewing the baskets or for making plait.
The baskets are sewn with the grass as a weft and the palm top as a thread, and the plait is made by intertwining the threads in various sizes and patterns. From the plait, many items can be stitched. The natural materials for these crafts are sourced on North Caicos and Middle Caicos, where they are skillfully combined with conch shells, beads, ribbon, or stitch work to create beautiful items like clutch purses, change purses, iPad cases, beach bags, portfolios, and more.
The co-op has several model sailboats on display, some of which are raced at the annual Valentine's Day Cup at Bambarra Beach on Middle Caicos. This event is the perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy, and it’s a must if you happen to be visiting the islands during Valentine’s Day.
While the co-op shop has the largest selection of straw work crafts in the country, baskets and other items can be purchased at the souvenir shop at Bellefield Landing, the National Museum on Providenciales, and the Turks and Caicos National Museum on Grand Turk. Crafts are authenticated by their tag featuring a regal island lady with the words ‘Handmade Turks and Caicos Islands’.
Other items for purchase at the shop include books by local authors, postcards, local art, and handmade dolls.
Visiting the Middle Caicos Co-op
The Middle Caicos Co-op shop is located at My Dee's Plaza on North Caicos, about a 15-minute drive from Bellefield Landing where the ferry docks. From time to time, the co-op hosts live demonstrations.
North Caicos and Middle Caicos are the two largest islands in the Turks and Caicos, and it's easy to visit them on a day trip from Providenciales. Visiting for the day is highly recommended, as it allows you to swap the busyness of Providenciales for lush landscapes, sparse development, and countless untouched beaches.
To visit these islands is to truly connect with the essence of the Turks and Caicos, as they are rich in culture celebrated through crafts, local cuisine, and an innate connection to the undisturbed marine and terrestrial environments.
The islands are easily accessible from Providenciales via a short 30-minute ferry ride that can easily accommodate both day visits and extended stays. Be sure to arrange a rental car before you arrive and travel with enough water, snacks, and bug spray. Depending on the day you visit, it may be hard to come by an open store for stocking up on snacks and supplies.