Case Study: Farmers' Markets and Local Food Systems

This blog post summarizes a case study of sustainable development happening right here on Vancouver Island! The study I chose embraces the benefits of farmers’ markets and the creation of a farmers’ market in the Royal Oak area of Saanich, BC. Farmers’ markets are an important aspect of food distribution for local farmers here on the Island and around the world. They can strengthen local food systems and assist towns and cities achieve sustainability outcomes. Unlike massive grocery stores, farmers’ markets acknowledge the importance of relying on locally available resources and also recognizing the mutual dependencies between local producers and consumers. Seeing as we live on an island, the method of local food production and distribution can also assist in fostering food security. The distance food must travel (food miles) is significantly reduced when compared to grocery stores.

Locally-produced foods also have health benefits. When local produce is purchased locally, it is likely to be consumed much sooner after harvest than non-local produce and therefore have higher nutritional value when consumed (MacNair, 2004). Farmers’ markets contribute to people’s health and well-being by often including health-related education that can occur during producer-consumer interactions and also by providing healthy, fresh and more often than not organic products.

Shifting to the proposed farmers’ market in Royal Oak, seven key factors were chosen by the people that will be considered for its success. A few examples are given for each factor:
• Participation –commitment, interaction, afford market stall fees
• Organization – management, volunteers, land acquisition
• Location – adequate parking, public transit access, bathroom facilities
• Market Scheduling – morning/night, weekday/weeknight, 4X a month
• Products Offered – fruits/vegetables, local meats, craftspeople
• Market Features – children activities, food demos
• Market Type – individual stalls

The interactions that occur between producers and consumers at farmers’ markets often go beyond economic capital gains and can lead to ‘social capital’ formation (Hinrichs, 2000; Lapping, 2004). Coming together once a week creates a social area which fosters community, friendships and social networking. If Royal Oak does not go forward with a farmers’ market, it would be a crying shame. The benefits to the community are immense, and I haven’t even scratched the surface! I hope that one day this area will receive their wish.

The most important benefit of farmers’ markets, to me, is the education it provides. People nowadays, either child or adult, do not know where their food comes from. This is absolutely outrageous! We have been brainwashed to shop at places like Walmart and Costco, where everything is overly packaged and transported thousands of miles around the world. We have lost the appreciation and respect for the very things that sustain us! This bothers me because I grew up on a farm, and I know where and how a lot of the food that I consume comes from. But now that I live in the city, I feel a disconnection to the source of my purchases. Writing this blog has inspired me to shop with a conscience and consider where and who my money is going to.

Reference: Link, Alexandra & Ling, Chris. Farmers' Markets and Local Food Systems. Retrieved December 5, 2009 from, http://crcresearch.royalroads.ca/case-studies/crc-case-studies/farmers-markets-and-local-food-systems