scholarly journals Against Food Waste: CSR for the Social and Environmental Impact through a Network-Based Organizational Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Moggi ◽  
Sabrina Bonomi ◽  
Francesca Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Farmers Market

This article inductively develops a model of how farmers market organizations can contribute to reduce food waste, fight poverty, and improve public health through innovative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices enabled by networked activity systems. To this aim, a ten-year longitudinal case study of one of the biggest Italian farmers markets has been conducted, based on triangulated data from participant observation, interviews, and internal documents collection. This study suggests that farmers market organizations are in the position to leverage their inter-organizational relationships, institutional role, and power to build collaborative networks with businesses, government bodies, and charities, so that concrete CSR-based virtuous circles on surplus food donation are triggered at the organizational field level. Answering the call from United Nation Goals for successful examples on SDG 12, this case presents how several CSR levers can have a social and environmental impact allowing farmers and their market organizations to increase their efficiency and accountability to the local community, improve processes, reduce food waste, and contribute to public health and social inclusion. CSR actions have co-evolved with significant changes in organizational logics and identity, thus enabling accountability to the local community and innovative network-level auditing of the relevant organizational processes.

scholarly journals Impact evaluation based on benefit indicators (IEBBI): methodological proposal for agroecological farmers’ markets

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-253
Author(s):  
David Pérez-Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Impact Indicators ◽  
Politica Publica ◽  
Growing Strategy ◽  
Impacto Económico

Farmers’ markets represent a growing strategy for the generation of food sovereignty and sustainability; however, little is known about their impacts in economic, social and environmental terms. The objective of this research was to develop a framework that would allow determining that impact. The resulting methodological framework includes 20 indicators divided into seven groups: proximity, profitability, perceived benefits, areas of opportunity, economic impact, social impact, and environmental impact. This methodology was applied in one agroecological farmers’ market in Mexico City. Among the results, the main benefits are linked to socioeconomic interaction, while environmental impact indicators are the least considered. This methodology can guide the design, implementation, comparison, and monitoring of this type of initiative in the medium and long term. El marco metodológico resultante está compuesto por 20 indicadores distribuidos en siete grupos: indicadores de proximidad, rentabilidad, beneficios percibidos, áreas de oportunidad, impacto económico, impacto social e impacto ambiental. Esta metodología puede constituir una guía para orientar la política pública en el diseño, puesta en marcha, comparación y monitoreo de este tipo de iniciativas a mediano y largo plazo.

scholarly journals Feeling Valued and Adding Value: A Participatory Action Research Project on Co-creating Practices of Social Inclusion in Kindergartens and Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina von Heimburg ◽  
Susanne Vollan Langås ◽  
Borgunn Ytterhus
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Contemporary public health problems connect to the social determinants of health, with a growing recognition of social inclusion as imperative to sustainable development. In this quest for social inclusion, early childhood and families are of particular interest. Although co-creation is suggested as viable path to support well-being, less is known how social inclusion might be co-created in practice. The aim of this study was to explore how Participatory Action Research (PAR) can be a tool for transformative practices in a local community, pointing to kindergartens as meeting places for recognizing social inclusion as a common value in early childhood.Methods: A qualitative PAR study was embedded in a Norwegian municipality as an integrated part of their local public health work. The study involved a wide range of participants and stakeholders in three kindergartens and the wider community. Together, we explored potentials for co-creating social inclusion to achieve well-being through cycles of transformative actions and reflections. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to generate patterns and themes in the data.Results: The participants formulated and took on ownership to an inclusive agenda through the PAR-process. Acts of inclusion was framed by an intersection between political aims of achieving health and well-being for all and public value co-creation unfolding at the level of the place, in the context of the Norwegian welfare regime. To feel valued and adding value was seen as important aspects for social inclusion. Four themes were generated from analysis; (1) Co-creating a shared vision of inclusive communities, (2) Becoming aware and empowered through caring, sharing and collaboration, (3) Places and spaces of inclusiveness in kindergartens and beyond, and (4) Valuing and practicing inclusion, and signs of transformative change.Conclusions: Through the PAR process, parents, kindergartens employees, community members and policy makers appear to have opened a creative toolbox for inclusive and transformational change through formulating and co-creating inclusion and well-being as public values. The results suggest that local actors might support adaptive social systems to taking on relational responsibility for inclusive processes and outcomes in the pursuit of well-being for all.

Farmers' markets and the local community: Bridging the formal and informal economy

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.A. Lyson ◽  
G.W. Gillespie ◽  
D. Hilchey
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Using Data

AbstractFarmers' markets are important but inadequately studied contributors to local economies. They allow individual entrepreneurs and their families to contribute to the economic life of local communities by providing goods and services that are not readily available through formal, mass markets, and they bring producers and consumers together to solidify bonds of local identity and solidarity. Using data collected from 115 farmers' market vendors in three regions of New York in 1993, we examined the characteristics and operations of three categories of vendors: full-time growers, part-time growers, and non-grower artisans and craftspeople. Drawing on theories of mass production and mass markets, we show how farmers' markets represent intermediate social structures that bridge the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

scholarly journals Farmers’ Market Actors, Dynamics, and Attributes: A Bibliometric Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Figueroa-Rodríguez ◽  
María Álvarez-Ávila ◽  
Fabiola Hernández Castillo ◽  
Rita Schwentesius Rindermann ◽  
Benjamín Figueroa-Sandoval
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Direct Marketing ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Single Type ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Alternative Food Networks ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Production And Consumption

Farmers’ markets aim to bring producers and consumers together under direct marketing schemes, also known as alternative food networks, for local and sustainable production and consumption of food. A number of studies concerning this subject have been published, however, as yet no updated reviews exist that might allow us to understand the trends in research on farmers’ markets. The objective of this study was to examine the farmers’ market literature using bibliometric tools. A total of 438 peer-reviewed publications, indexed in the abstract and citation meta-database Scopus (Elsevier®), for the period of 1979 to September 24, 2018, were considered. In the second phase, publications in the area of medicine were excluded, resulting in 295 publications being analyzed for the same period. The results showed that these publications focused on three main areas: markets, health programs, and food safety. Upon exclusion of the medical publications, the remaining works focused on farmers’ market actors, dynamics, and attributes: vendors (producers and others), consumers, the community, and supporting actors and institutions (government, NGOs, individuals). Therefore, it is concluded that there is no single type of farmers’ market, nor of farmers’ market vendors or consumers. This makes the reproduction of such spaces difficult, especially when the goals are to benefit local production systems or the nutrition of the local community.

Best Practices for Shoppers at the Farmers’ Market

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria J. Rometo ◽  
Jamie Sapijaszko ◽  
Soohyoun Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Business Regulations

This factsheet is one in a “Florida Farmers’ Markets” series that is designed to provide information to managers, vendors and shoppers of Florida farmers’ markets on topics highly relevant to starting and running a food business: regulations, best practices, and marketing. We provide shopping tips and food safety recommentations for FL farmers market shoppers in this factsheet.

scholarly journals Racial, Gender, and Age Dynamics in Michigan’s Urban and Rural Farmers Markets: Reducing Food Insecurity, and the Impacts of a Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 000276422110133
Author(s):  
Dorceta E. Taylor ◽  
Alliyah Lusuegro ◽  
Victoria Loong ◽  
Alexis Cambridge ◽  
Claire Nichols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
People Of Color ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
Number Of Customers

In recent decades, the number of farmer’s markets has increased dramatically across the country. Though farmers markets have been described as White spaces, they can play important roles in reducing food insecurity. This is particularly true in Michigan where farmer’s markets were crucial collaborators in pioneering programs such as Double-Up Food Bucks that help low-income residents and people of color gain access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food. This article examines the questions: (1) What are the demographic characteristics of the farmers market managers, vendors, and customers and how do these influence market activities? (2) To what extent do farmers markets participate in programs aimed at reducing food insecurity? (3) To what extent do farmers markets serve low-income residents and people of color? and (4) How has the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) affected the operations of farmers markets. This article discusses the findings of a 2020 study that examined the extent to which Michigan’s farmer’s markets served low-income customers and people of color and participated in food assistance programs. The study examined 79 farmers markets and found that 87.3% of the farmer’s market managers are White. On average, roughly 79% of the vendors of the markets are White and almost 18% are people of color. Most of the vendors in the markets participate in nutrition assistance programs. Market managers estimate that about 76% of their customers are White and about 23% are people of color. Farmers markets operated by people of color attract higher numbers of customers and vendors of color than those operated White market managers. Almost half of the farmer’s markets started operations later than usual in 2020 because of the pandemic. More than a third of the markets reported that their funding declined during the pandemic. Moreover, the number of vendors declined at two thirds of the markets and the number of customers dipped at more than 40% of the markets. On the other hand, the number of people requesting food assistance during the pandemic increased in more than half of the markets.

scholarly journals “My coupons are like gold”: experiences and perceived outcomes of low-income adults participating in the British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Caron-Roy ◽  
Sayeeda Amber Sayed ◽  
Katrina Milaney ◽  
Bonnie Lashewicz ◽  
Sharlette Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Farmers Market

ABSTRACT Objective: The British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) provides low-income households with coupons valued at $21/week for 16 weeks to purchase healthy foods in farmers’ markets. Our objective was to explore FMNCP participants’ experiences of accessing nutritious foods, and perceived program outcomes. Design: This study used qualitative description methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with FMNCP participants during the 2019 farmers’ market season. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the data whereby the five domains of Freedman et al’s framework of nutritious food access provided the basis for an initial coding scheme. Data that did not fit within the framework’s domains were coded inductively. Setting: One urban and two rural communities in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: 28 adults who were participating in the FMNCP. Results: Three themes emerged: Autonomy and Dignity; Social Connections and Community Building; and Environmental and Programmatic Constraints. Firstly, the program promoted a sense of autonomy and dignity through financial support, increased access to high-quality produce, food-related education and skill development, and mitigating stigma and shame. Secondly, shopping in farmers’ markets increased social connections and fostered a sense of community. Finally, participants experienced limited food variety in rural farmers’ markets, lack of transportation, and challenges with redeeming coupons. Conclusions: Participation in the FMNCP facilitated access to nutritious foods and enhanced participants’ diet quality, well-being and health. Strategies such as increasing the amount and duration of subsidies, and expanding programs may help improve participants’ experiences and outcomes of farmers’ market food subsidy programs.

Educated Guesses: Health Risk Assessment in Environmental Impact Statements

1990 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-427
Author(s):  
Pamela D. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
National Environmental Policy Act ◽  
The Public ◽  
Environmental Impact Statements ◽  
National Environmental ◽  
Scientific Tool ◽  
Predicted Risk

Environmental pollution threatens public health. The search for solutions has advanced the frontiers of science and law. Efforts to protect the environment and public health begin with describing potential adverse consequences of human activities and characterizing the predicted risk. The National Environmental Policy Act requires the preparation of environmental impact statements to describe the effects of proposed federal projects and provide information for agency decisionmakers and the public.Risks to public health are particularly difficult to quantify because of uncertainty about the relation between exposure to environmental contamination and disease. Risk assessment is the current scientific tool to present estimates of risk. The methodology has created controversy, however, when underlying assumptions and uncertainties are not clearly presented. Critics caution that the methodology is vulnerable to bias. This Note evaluates the use of risk assessment in the environmental impact statement process and offers recommendations to ensure informed decisions.

Consumer interactions and influences on farmers' market vendors

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Local Identity ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Local Agriculture ◽  
Customer Interaction ◽  
Chemical Inputs ◽  
Consumer Interactions ◽  
Direct Market

AbstractConsumers interact with each other and vendors on a social level at farmers' markets. Some consumer social interactions, such as enjoying the market, talking with farmers about seasonal products and making a trip to the market a family event, are significant and positive influences on spending at farmers' markets as identified through a survey of 216 shoppers at eight farmers' markets in Maine. Vendors at these markets were also surveyed, with 65 of the 81 vendors being farmers. Through direct farmer/consumer relations, farmers indicated a willingness to reduce chemical inputs to meet customer demands, suggesting that customer interaction has the potential to affect environmental quality. By examining the linkages between producers and consumers at a direct market—often embedded with a sense of local identity—there is the potential to better understand social interactions that can support the economic and environmental sustainability of local agriculture.

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