Paradise or pavement: the social constructions of the environment in two urban farmers' markets and their implications for environmental justice and sustainability

Principles Guiding Practice: A Case Study Analysis of the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture for Diverse Farms

“…There is growing emphasis on the relationships between social justice and sustainable agriculture and how the objectives associated with each can be complementary (Ayres & Bosia, 2011;Connelly, Markey & Roseland, 2011;Hernandez & Pressler, 2013;Johnston, 2008;Mandell, 2009;Masters, Krogstrand, Eskridge, & Albrecht, 2014;MinkoffZern, 2014). At a more regional level, concerns about the potential for the local and organic food movement to increase social divisions through unequal access to venues like farmers' markets have grown (Agyeman, 2005;Alkon, 2008Alkon, , 2013Deutsch, 2011). The degree to which elite-serving value chains exacerbate social injustice globally by allowing practices like child labor or driving agricultural production for export to the U.S. and Europe instead of meeting food needs at home is now part of the sustainable agriculture agenda (Berlan, 2013;Bolwig, Ponte, du Toit, Riisgaard, & Halberg, 2010).…”

Albanian and UK Consumers’ Perceptions of Farmers’ Markets and Supermarkets as Outlets for Organic Food: An Exploratory Study

“…However, in the Czech Republic, the consumers' perceptions of farmers' markets have been investigated [88]. In contrast to the US/Western findings of farmers' market consumer perception [89,90], the survey in Prague showed that consumers of different ages, family sizes and occupation type shop from farmers' markets. These consumers are mainly motivated by the freshness of food and better taste.…”

Community Food Systems: Strengthening the Research-to-Practice Continuum

“…McEntee (2010) describes the uneasy relationship between the needs of food producers to have better income and the needs of food "consumers" to have affordable and equitable access to healthy food. Alkon (2008b) demonstrates the difficulties in a case study of a West Oakland market that struggles to both attract local residents and support the vendors, many of whom have left due to the limited economic benefits. Interviews with farmers' market managers show that some markets prioritize farmers' income over food security, while markets that prioritize food security understandably have trouble convincing farmers to continue to sell at their market (Alkon, 2008a;Guthman et al, 2006).…”

“…Some research argues that existing practices and outcomes are reinforcing existing race and class privileges (Guthman, 2011;Hayes-Conroy, 2010). Boule notes, "Many alternative agriculture institutions such as farmers' markets typically fail to focus on racial and economic equality and even those who do ironically must rely on affluent (often White) consumers for their existence (Alkon, 2008b(Alkon, )" (2012. At the same time, when they seek to expand healthy food options in low-income communities, community food activists -mostly white and affluent -have been criticized for imposing "elite culinary preferences" of minimally processed, local, and organic food on the rest of the population (Laudan, 2001).…”