The farmers markets, which are often organized as non-commercial organizations, play an important role in the emerging of the alternative food network. The impact of these organizations on the development of the food network partially can be explained by the processes of the regional clustering1.
The farmers market in this particular case fulfils the function of the food distribution from the agricultural to the urban environment. With the rapid growth of the urban population, the need for the food supply is constantly increasing. At the same time, many products are produced in the suburban areas.
Together they form the chain that plays an important role in the food supply.
“Allegedly the tradition of direct agricultural markets was brought to North America from Europe and spread across the continent with European settlement” 2
The first reported case of the farmers market appearance in America took place in the seventeenth century. However, the real boom of the farmers markets was observed beginning from the 1970. The existing popularity of this AFN may be explained by many factors.
These are not only the producers wish for the attaining benefits and the consumers interest in the fresh foods, but also the specific friendly atmosphere on the farmers market. The importance of this sphere for the American food system can hardly be overestimated.
The benefits of the farmers market are obvious as for the consumers as well as for the farmers. The consumers are attracted by the fresh and healthy products, and by the great variety of them, as compared with the supermarket chain.
Consumers patronize farmers markets first and foremost because of the superior quality of the produce relative to that which may be found at regular large-scale supermarkets. 3
Low prices are another benefit of the farmers markets. It goes without saying, that the quality of the products is better than in the supermarket.
For the farmers the benefit lies in the cost saving of the production transportation and in the ability of the wholesale with the large grocery companies. Moreover, sometimes the farmers are attracted by the simplicity of the trade process and the absence of the bureaucratic acrimony, as it often happens with the large companies.
Not only the freshness of the products, but also the direct contact of the consumer with the farmers were the main factors, which guaranteed the farmers markets popularity. Moreover, this AFN profited the development of the local agricultural sector and for the development of the local economy.
Qazi and Selfa in their research found out that the major part of the customers were attracted by the freshness of the products and by the great possibility of choice, rather than money economy. 4
At the same time, it must be admitted that there are several definite problems with which the producers of the agricultural products face. Industrialization is one of them.
Historically the structure of agriculture in America was organized on the basis of the hereditary system which was “a powerful and effective form of economic organization”5. Such a structure was not only the basis of the economic wealth, but also the “important social and political value to the development of our nation”.6
Last time, there is a tendency for changing of this agricultural structure. In the present time, the circumstances force farmers to increase the output of the production. It leads to the industrialization and the commercialization of the agricultural structure.
According to the statistic research the amount of farms are constantly decreasing. Such a tendency constitutes a menace to the existing of the farmers markets.
The problem is not only in reducing the amount of farms. At the present day, a great deal of farmers in order to be competitive use the modern technologies. The industrialization of the agricultural sector often leads to the usage of the genetic engineering in farming.
Many researches state that the industrialization possesses a definite threat to farming. In spite the fact that the influence of it on the global economy of the country is doubtful, Hamilton proposes several ways to sustain it at least in the agricultural sphere.
First, it is necessary to reignite the debate over the industrialization7 in order the society to understand all its consequences. Secondly, it is necessary to regulate some economic relations, such as the use of the contract production in the cattle breeding.
Moreover, there must be implemented a certain regulatory environment for the farmers protection.
In spite all these negative factors, it is necessary to mention some positive events in the sphere of the farming. Not so long ago, there appeared several farming independent organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, or the National Corn Growers Association.
Though the tendency for the industrialization of the agricultural field is still high, the consumers’ interest for the fresh agrarian products does not subside. With the development of the industrialization, the price for the natural products becomes a less significant factor for the consumer.
The interest to this AFN will promote the appearance of the new markets.
Bibliography
Hamilton, Neil. “Agriculture Without Farmers? Is Industrialization Restructuring American Food Production and Threatening the Future of Sustainable Agriculture?”. Northern Illinois University Law preview 14. (1994): 613-657
Porter, Michael. “Location, Competition, and Economic Development: Local Clusters in a Global Economy”. Economic Development Quarterly 14, no. 15. (2000): 15-34.
Taylor, Davis and Chad Mille. “Rethinking local business clusters: the case of food clusters for promoting community development”. Community Development 41, no.1. (2010): 108-120.
Spitzer, Thomas and Henry Baum. “Public Markets and Community Revitalization”. The Urban Land Institute and Project for Public Spaces 10. (1995):29-69.
Qazi, Joan and Theresa Selfa. “The Politics of Building Alternative Agro-food Networks in the Belly of Agro-industry”. University of Exeter in Cornwall, and Utah State University 14. (2004):46-71.
Footnotes
1 Davis Taylor and Chad Mille, “Rethinking local business clusters: the case of food clusters for promoting community development”, Community Development 41, no.1, (2010): 114.
2 Thomas Spitzer and Henry Baum, “Public Markets and Community Revitalization”, The Urban Land Institute and Project for Public Spaces 10, (1995):41
3 Michael Porter, “Location, Competition, and Economic Development: Local Clusters in a Global Economy”, Economic Development Quarterly 14, no. 15, (2000): 16.
4 Joan Quazi and Theresa Selfa, “The Politics of Building Alternative Agro-food Networks in the Belly of Agro-industry”, University of Exeter in Cornwall, and Utah State University 14, (2004):52.
5 Neil Hamilton, “Agriculture Without Farmers? Is Industrialization Restructuring American Food Production and Threatening the Future of Sustainable Agriculture?”, Northern Illinois University Law preview 14, (1994): 614
6 Ibid., 614.
7 Ibid., 648