Description
The objective of the “E-kofa” (cca. “E-costermonger”) is to establish a direct producer-customer cooperation in order to enable customers to buy local eco-friendly products with warranty and provide a reliable marketing channel for farmersin Eger, Hungary. The project is expected to (1) build up confidence between local producers and consumers; (2) set up a direct trading scheme of local products; (3) disseminate eco-conscious local purchasing. Main activities and outputs include - evaluation and involvement of at least 20 farmers within a 30 mile radius of Eger; - at least 20 video presentations of the involved farmers; - the www.e-kofa.hu website dedicated to the dissemination of up-to-date information on farmers and products and to the online ordering system; - a media campaign on the local level. The project targets the inhabitants of Eger, local farmers of the city’s vicinity, relevant local civil society organizations and other groups of citizens.
Summary of project results
Addressing challenges of sustainable consumption and production (especially the lack of reliable food procurement sources and marketing problems of the small-scale farmers) the objective of the project was to set up a direct producer-customer cooperation framework in order to enable customers of the town of Eger to buy high quality local eco-friendly products as well as to provide an effective marketing channel for nearby farmers. The main result of the project is the ekofa.hu webpage that supports and enable online marketing and trade of local products forming the sortiment in light of the needs of consumers and producers as well as seasonal variations of both supply and demand. Products ordered through the website are collected and delivered to a downtown handover point by a mediating “e-costermonger” once a week – these occasions are also combined with product tasting opportunities as well. The ultimate goal of the development of the framework was to set up a sustainable system adaptable also in other regions or even sectors. Following the regionwide data collection and networking activities 21 producers have joined the scheme by the end of the project about whom short videos got published on the website. More than 300 consumers have been directly involved, and other several thousands have been reached through events and the media.
Summary of bilateral results