Description
The project addresses the need to increase public support for farmers’ markets. The project aims at boosting the capacity of the 2 farmers’ markets in Sofia (Rimskata Stena) and Plovdiv to make them true community centres. First, the facilities of the 2 markets set up under the Hrancoop initiative will be improved. New equipment (refrigerators, electronic scales, stalls, tables, cookers) will be purchased. Second, coordinators will be hired to ensure coordination with all the stakeholders and manage relations with local authorities, the market facilities and youth workshops. Third, a section will be added to organichno.com website to present topical news. Fourth, a series of workshops will be held on reusable bags, solar cookers, home composting and seed bombs. Finally, about 200 young people will be informally trained during 10 youth workshops in organic and subsistence farming. The project will benefit the citizens of Sofia and Plovdiv, farmers and the business.
Summary of project results
The project was needed to improve the capacity for management of farmers’ markets and introduce internal systems for administrative, financial and food control, quality of events and PR. Thanks to the project better premises for the markets with equipment which meets the minimum legal food safety standards were made available. The number of the farmers’ markets in the country increased from 2 to 6. The farmers’ market in Plovdiv was upgraded with coop-kitchen; increased was number of producers and market sales in the two project locations (Sofia and Plovdiv) from 24 to 56. The project helped the farmers’ markets to be recognized as urban events developing the culture of food consumption of the local communities. The project has also resulted in a large number of environmentally-friendly, culinary and cultural events that helped the project promoter gain greater trust, publicity and change in the consumption of local farm food. An online guide for setting up of food cooperatives and farmers’ markets was issued. The producers in the farmers’ markets took part in the planning of all related events and promoted them among their networks of contacts. The producers who were interested in taking part in the markets but were not able due to lack of registration were included in discussions and team building activities to survey and analyze their needs. The young people looking for jobs were included in the summer volunteering campaign and a discussion about the opportunities of small farms. The project ensured the sustainability of the results and a greater access of producers to farmers’ markets and upgraded its achievement with the innovative coop-kitchen. The first initiative was launched in Plovdiv in June 2015 to allow unregistered producers to share common production space and thus help them market regulated production.
Summary of bilateral results