The farmers market is a physical retail market intended to sell food directly by farmers to consumers. The farmers' markets may be inside or outside the home and usually consist of booths, tables or booths where farmers sell fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and food and beverages that are sometimes prepared. Farmer markets exist in many countries around the world and reflect local cultures and economies. Market size may be just a few kiosks or maybe as big as several city blocks. Due to their nature, they tend to be less strictly regulated than retail product shops.
They are distinguished from public markets, which are generally housed in permanent structures, open year-round, and offer a range of non-farmers/non-producers vendors, packaged foods and non-food products.
Video Farmers' market
Histori
The concept of farmers' markets today is similar to the concept of the past, but different in relation to other forms - as an aspect of consumer retail, as a whole, continues to shift over time. Similar forms existed before the Industrial era, but often became part of a wider market, where food suppliers and other goods gathered to sell their wares. Trading posts are beginning to turn to retailers who sell other people's products more than theirs. General stores and grocery stores continue to specialize in retail trends, optimizing the consumer experience, while abstracting it further from production and from the growing complexity of production.
The advantage of modern industrial food production exceeds the previous method is highly dependent on modern transportation, cheap, fast and limited product variability. But transportation costs and delays can not be completely eliminated. So where the range of industrial suppliers is strained, where consumers have a strong preference for local varieties, farmers' markets remain competitive with other forms of food retailing. Beginning in the mid-2000s, consumer demand for fresher food (spending less time in transit) and for food with more variety - has led to the growth of the farmer's market as a food retailing mechanism.
Maps Farmers' market
Benefits
For farmers
Farmers' markets can offer farmers greater profits than sales to wholesalers, food processors, or large wholesale companies. By selling directly to consumers, products often require less transportation, less handling, less cooling and less time in storage. By selling in outdoor markets, the cost of land, buildings, lighting and air conditioning is also reduced or eliminated. Farmers can also retain profits from products that are not sold to consumers, by selling surplus to canning and other food processing companies. In the market, farmers can maintain a full premium for a part of their product, not just the wholesale price of the processor for the whole lot. However, other economists say "there is little benefit in terms of energy efficiency, quality or cost... even fun, not a good economic model."
Some farmers prefer simplicity, closeness, transparency and direct sales independence to consumers. One method noted by the special interest group Food Empowerment Project promotes a community-supported agriculture program (CSA). In this scheme, consumers pay seasonal or monthly farms to receive a weekly or biweekly yield box. Or, they may be required to pay for the entire production of the season before the planting season. In both cases, consumers risk losing their money if there is a crop failure.
To community
Among the benefits that are often touted for communities with farmers' markets:
- Farmers' markets help maintain important social ties, linking rural and urban populations and even close neighbors in mutually beneficial exchange.
- market traffic generates traffic for nearby businesses
- in-market purchases drive attention to the surrounding area and ongoing activity
- by providing outlets for 'local' products, farmers' markets help create distinctions and uniqueness, which can increase pride and encourage visitors to return.
Reduced transportation, storage and cooling can also benefit the community:
- lower transport & amp; cooling energy costs
- lower transport pollution
- lower transport infrastructure costs (roads, bridges, etc.)
- fewer land dedicated to food storage
Farmers' markets can also contribute to innovative distribution facilities that strengthen civic engagement by reducing social distance between urban and rural communities. With fewer intermediaries, support from independent growers by local community members can increase local economic and health opportunities & health in poor communities.
To consumers
Some consumers may like farmers' markets for perception:
- reduce overhead: driving, parking, etc.
- fresh food
- seasonal food
- healthy food
- better various foods, for example: organic food, meat kept in pastures, eggs and free poultry, handmade cheese on farms, heirlooms produce hereditary inheritance from meat and many less immune cultivars transportation is not favored by wholesalers
- where to meet neighbors, chat, etc.
- a place to enjoy a walk outside while getting the required food
The evidence seems to indicate that overall prices in typical farmer markets are lower than prices in supermarkets because the production process is shorter; there is less distance to travel and fewer middlemen.
Regional emphasis
Canada and the United States
In part due to increased interest in healthier foods, greater desire to conserve local cultivars or livestock (some of which may not meet delivery standards or commercial outcomes) and increased understanding of the importance of maintaining sustainable small farms on the periphery of urban environments, farmers' markets in the US has grown from 1,755 in 1994 to 4,385 in 2006, to 5,274 in 2009, to 8,144 in 2013. In New York City, there are 107 farmer markets in operation. In the Los Angeles area, there are 88 farmers' markets, many of whom support Hispanic and Asian tribes. In the US, all levels of government have provided funds for the farmer's market, for example, through federal programs [1], [2], [3], and [4]. Programs primarily subsidize purchases in farmer markets by low-income people. Examples include the Double Austin Doll Incentive Program, Bounty Bucks Boston, LINK Up Chicago, Columbia Heights Festibucks in Washington, DC, New Examination at East Palo Alto, Market Match in Los Angeles, Double Meal Bucks in Michigan, New York City Health Bucks, Portland Fresh Exchange, and Seattle Fresh Bucks. These programs often rely on nonprofit support.
United Kingdom
Since the first farmers' market was established in the UK in 1997, the number has increased to more than 550 nationals. A number of factors led to the emergence of farmer markets in Britain in the late 1990s, including increased consumer knowledge, the struggle of British farmers, anti-French sentiment, and concerns about food safety and quality. Consumers are concerned about farming practices in which foods are produced, processed and certain aspects of health and food safety. The emergence of books, magazine articles, and cooking and gardening programs affect the attention of consumers to the preparation and consumption of food.
European Union
The EU has formalized efforts to expand farmer markets to reduce food and malnutrition risk through a program known as "Agriculture to the Fork". Agriculture-to-fork is developed with three main goals in the EU:
- To develop an effective form of implementation and evaluation of food safety standards
- Works internationally with third world countries and organizations managing food safety issues
- To comply with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) research standards and science-based research management
Management
Organizations start, organize, and manage farmer markets, including farmer groups, community groups, local governments, etc.
Some markets are tightly managed, with rules for pricing, quality and vendor selection. Others are much more relaxed in the operations and criteria of their vendors. While the usual emphasis is on local food products, some farmers' markets allow cooperatives and suppliers, or allow farmers to buy some products for resale.
Recently there have been fraudulent reports and products that are incorrectly labeled as organic or local when they are not. In some cases, fraudulent farmers market ordinary grocery stores, distributing them as organic or locally grown, usually sold to unsuspecting tourists.
Some farmers' markets have wholesale operations, sometimes limited to certain days or hours. One of the wholesale farmers' markets is the South Carolina State Farmers Market, which is a major supplier of watermelons, melons, and peaches to produce buyers in the northeastern United States. The farmers' markets can also supply buyers from production kiosks, restaurants, and garden shops with fresh fruits and vegetables, crops, seedlings and nursery stock, honey, and other agricultural products. While this is on the decline, partly due to the growth of chain stores that want a national distribution network and cheap wholesales prices - prices are driven by the low cost of imported products.
Product category
Pork and beef products
A wide variety of beef and pork products are sold at farmers markets in the United States. Typical beef products include steak, beef, beef jerky, and various types of beef sausages. Typical pork products include sausages and bacon.
Beef and pork products sold at farmers' markets in the US, like other beef/pork products sold to the public, must come from slaughtered cattle at government butcher-fed (federal or state) slaughterhouses. Because the government inspects slaughterhouses to buy cattle for slaughter, many often have facilities, equipment, and personnel to supply meat products to wholesalers. Like restaurants, such arrangements are very popular in farmers' markets as they enable them to avoid overhead costs (facilities, equipment, knowledge, maintenance, food safety inspections, etc.) associated with the production of legally sold meat products to the public.. Resell vendors are mostly in the farmer's market while vendors who make and pack their own meat products represent a very small percentage. Resale allows vendors to minimize investment and overhead by purchasing their products from slaughterhouses and/or commercial processing plants.
Meat products in farmers' markets sold by retailers will include "distributed by/packaged for", or similar, statements on their meat product label. In contrast, meat products sold in farmer markets prepared and packed by selling sellers will not include "distributed by/packed for" statements, or similar.
Unprocessed meat
Unprocessed meat products (retail cuts) found in farmers' markets may include government inspection legends plus label "distributed by/packaged for/prepared for". Other information on the label will include weight, price, and safe handling instructions.
The official inspection legend includes an incorporation number (EST) that identifies the last company that processes/discharges, packaging, and product labeling. Because the label contains the statement "distributed by/packaged for", the meat may come from other breeders/farmers or fattening farms. The presence of government inspection legends identifies unprocessed meat products and is packaged by sellers who sell. Meat products prepared and packed by sellers or butchers will not include government seals, and will not include any type of statement that classifies the vendor as a reseller/distributor.
Label on beef and retail pork products originating from livestock sellers/breeders will not include the statement "distributed by/packaged for/prepared for". Note that the label will still have an official/government Inspection Legend identifying the establishment of cutting, cutting, packaging and labeling as any product that leaves the slaughterhouse for sale for human consumption should have a government inspection legend. For example, labels that do not have "distributed by/packaged for", etc. statements. Ensuring the buyer that, while the vendor is not cutting/packing/etc, the meat comes from the vendor's cattle.
Labels on meat products processed and packaged by sales vendors will not include government inspection legends and will not include "distributed by/packed for" statements.
The retail cuts of meat products sold by vendors who do the cutting, packaging, and labeling themselves will not include government inspection legends or "distributed by/packed for" statements on labels. In such a case the butcher/seller gets the carcass or other large chunks of meat from the government-sanctioned slaughterhouses and performs secondary cuts ("fabrication"), packaging, and labeling at his own facility. The official government inspection legend is not required on meat packets slaughtered and packaged by these vendors as they are sold directly to consumers.
Processed meat
Most processed meat products (sausage, bacon, hot dog, frankfurter, snack stick) sold in the farmer's market have labels that include "distributed by/packaged for/etc." statements and legends of government inspections. Government inspection legends include establishment numbers (EST #) identifying commercial processing plants that create and package products; similar to sausage or bacon packages sold in supermarkets. Alternately, processed meat products are sold in farmers markets that do not include "distributed by/packaged for/etc." statements and legends of government inspection are products made and packaged by sales vendors. There are also vendors who sell processed meat products that include government inspection legends without being "distributed by/packaged for/etc." statement; such vendors sell co-pack products in which the manufacturer/manufacturer prepares and packages the product according to the vendor's prescription.
Reseller
Wholesale processed meat products that are resold at farmers' markets are known as "private label" products. Such products will include "distributed by/packaged for/etc." a statement plus a legend of government inspection that provides a number that identifies the product manufacturer. The number of critics of private label products is increasing as consumers become aware of the bad practices often used by product manufacturers.
It is not unusual to find a distributor/reseller of processed meat products in the farmer's market because wholesale products allow vendors to minimize their investment by not having to pay additional costs (knowledge, skills, equipment, supplies, maintenance, food safety inspection, packaging, labels, etc..) required to produce their own products. The wholesale package of processed meat will have a label that has a legend of government inspection. The inspection legend usually has an Establishment Number (EST #) that identifies the processing plant that creates and bundles the product. In addition, the package will contain phrases similar to "distributed by: Steve's Family Meat Company" or "packaged/prepared for Steve's Family Meat Company" somewhere on the label. Both producers (identified by EST. # In inspection legend) and distributor/reseller (eg Steve Family Meat Company) will be identified on the label.
Independent processor
The product labels from the farmer's market vendors that make and pack their own products will not include "distributed by/packaged for/etc." statement, and it will not have a legend of government inspection because its products are sold directly to consumers. Information about producer-producing labels will include the following information:
- Company name
- Address
- Product name
- Materials
- Date code
- Safe handling instructions
This will not include legends or government inspection seals.
Produce and fruit
Ideally, the yields and fruit of the farmer's market are usually grown in a geographical area that is considered local by market management. The term "local" is defined by the farmer's market and typically represents a product that grows within a certain radius measured in miles. Many farmers' markets state that they are a "producer only" market, and that their vendors grow all the products sold. Some farmers' markets do not use the term "producer only" and may allow sellers of products, fruits, and other food products.
Some farmers' markets allow sellers to resell vegetables and fruits if they are not available locally due to the time of year. Vegetables, fruits, meats, and other products sold back in the farmer's market are available to vendors through food distributors. This is a common practice and provides consumers with results and fruits that are not available at certain times of the year. In many markets resale of goods is a permanent part of the vendor's inventory.
There are four subject areas that consumers consider when they prefer to buy from the real manufacturers:
- Variety name
- What is the seasonal product for the region?
- Can market managers guarantee vendors only about producers?
- Is there a product that has a PLU (price look-up code) sticker on it?
Fraud
Lately, many shops in farmers markets in the United States and Canada are found to be selling fruits and vegetables that are not sourced from agriculture. Instead, they are purchased directly from local wholesalers and then sold at a marked price, under the guise of local farmers' production. In September 2017, a hidden camera investigation by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation found that while some kiosks in the Peterborough Toronto farmers market were actually run by local farmers, other kiosks in the same market only bought products from the wholesale market and sold them without original stickers of 50% above the retail price.
Tampa Bay Times food critic and investigative reporter Laura Reiley found that many vendors in the local "farmer's market" actually sell products that are rejected from local wholesale markets, or sell products purchased from non-local sources. In some cases they claimed to sell products from their own farms initially, but when pressed admitted that they did not grow the product for sale. In at least one case, although the vendor claims that the farm in question does not grow any food, and its products are all bought from other companies. In many cases fraud is evident because the types of food sold do not grow locally or out of season. Federal regulations in the United States require labeling of origin countries for production in supermarkets but not for small independent vendors.
The Tampa Bay Times also found that packaged foods, such as sauce, honey, jam, and jerky may appear from local vendors due to local company brands on the packaging, but are actually produced in co-packer plants with ingredients non-local. In the United States, the FDA requires that the manufacturer's name and address be listed on the food label, which may reveal this discrepancy.
Health risks
According to a study in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, farmers' markets increase the number of epidemics and cases of foodborne, norovirus, and campylobacter-transmitted diseases.
Gallery
All vegetables and fruits have unique names that distinguish them from others, whether it is for commercial use, for home gardening, or heirlooms. Alphanumeric numbers or strings usually identify newer commercial varieties. Employee vendors may not always know the names of the various products they sell but they will be able to obtain a list from their (manufacturer) companies. There are vendors who break the rules by reselling products in the Producer Only market.
Milk, poultry, and other products
Depending on the farmer's market, various products are available. Poultry, sheep, goats, eggs, milk, cream, ice cream, butter, cheese, honey syrup, jams, jelly, sauces, mushrooms, flowers, wool, wine, beer, breads and pastries are some examples of products that vendors produce which are sold in farmers' markets. Many farmers' markets allow sellers to prepare and sell ready-to-eat foods and beverages.
See also
References
Further reading
- Burns, Arthur F. (1996) Farmers Market Survey Report . Washington, D.C., US Department of Agriculture
External links
- The Farmers Facts USDA & amp; Statistics
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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