Farmers’ Markets as Social Economy Drivers of Local Food Systems

Abstract

There is growing interest in the re-localization of food systems. Farmers’ markets are important and increasingly prevalent sites of economic and social exchange in the evolution of local food systems. Little is understood, however, about the role of farmers’ markets in fostering increased local production and consumption, or the broader impacts of these social economy enterprises on the communities (both urban and rural) and regions with which they are associated. The goal of this research is to examine and compare the current and potential role of farmers’ markets in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as social economy drivers for local food systems.