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

Abstract

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.

A Transformational Change Framework for Developing Ecologically Embedded Manufacturing

“…Previous research on farmers' markets has rarely examined the marketing approach of producers (Figueroa-Rodríguez et al 2019). Ethnographic results indicate that it is rare for sustainability to be communicated explicitly during the sales exchange, and explicit messages about sustainability are primarily limited to pamphlets and signs (Garner 2018).…”

“…As noted by Figueroa-Rodríguez et al (2019), there is no single type of farmers' market, and participant sellers such as food processors may be present. The Loughborough Farmers' Market was visited from July to October 2019.…”

Vendor Variety and Market Sales: A Case Study of the Williamsburg Farmers Market

“…Farmers markets are still an important part of the food landscape for a variety of reasons. However, it is necessary to understand the unique needs and desires of communities and consumers in order to more successfully attract them to the farmers market (Figueroa-Rodríguez, Álvarez-Ávila, Hernández Castillo, Schwentesius Rindermann, & Figueroa-Sandoval, 2019). Farmers market consumers are highly influenced by their ability to realize a high value for the products they buy, particularly if they are higher priced (Landis, Smith, Lairson, Mckay, Nelson, & O'Briant, 2010;McGuirt et al, 2014).…”

Local and Organic Food Distribution Systems: Towards a Future Agenda

“…Bosona et al, 2011;Kroma, 2006;Marsden & Smith, 2005;Gracia et al, 2012;Levidow & Psarikidou, 2011 3. Meeting the rising demand for high quality, transparency in food production and traceability of seasonal or locally produced food Guaranteeing optimal pricing of local and organic food products by creating viable economic alternatives, which mean fair compensation for farmers and attractive prices for consumers Barbera & Dagnes, 2015;Berg & Preston, 2017;Figueroa-Rodríguez et al, 2019, Wittman et al, 2012 10.…”

“…Accessibility in terms of location Wittman et al, 2012 12. Accessibility in terms of hours and days of operation Berg & Preston, 2017;Figueroa-Rodríguez et al, 2019;Gumirakiza et al, 2014;Hofmann et al, 2009, Wittman et al, 2012 No.…”