Producers in short food supply chains and the role of local farmers' markets in sales

Abstract

Recently there has been a growing interest in local farmers' markets as the most significant areas of short food supply chains (SFSCs). The current study primarily focused on these market locations as the most important local food systems. In the course of our research, a questionnaire survey was conducted involving small producers operating in the county of Győr-Moson-Sopron and selling at local farmers' markets. Within the framework of this study in relation to the circle of producers, the method of farming, the viability of the economy, the role of direct sales, the forms of sales and their frequency, and the distance of delivery were regarded as major factors of the analysis. More than half of the respondents indicated the conventional way of farming, whereas the eco/bio cultivation method appears only to a limited extent. Contrary to our hypothesis, the proportion of those who gave the highest values to the question about the viability of the economy was outstanding. Respondents consider the role of direct sales to be particularly important. Examining the forms and frequency of sales it can be stated that the farmers' market is one of the main location for sales on a weekly and occasional (monthly) basis. Regarding the delivery distance almost half of the respondents deliver within a radius of 50 km but they consider longer distances acceptable. Overall, based on the opinions of the surveyed producers, the role of farmers' markets is prominent within the SFSC sales methods and this might also apply to future tendencies.