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pocket market
DCHP-2 (Jul 2016)
n. — British Columbia, Agriculture
a small-scale farmers market, typically run by a third party connecting the farmers to the consumers.
Type: 1. Origin — A pocket market differs from a farmers market in its generally smaller scope as well as the existence of a third party organizer to organize the sale of the products rather than the farmers themselves (see the first 2009 and the 2010 quotations). In contrast to many other fruit and vegetable sellers, however, the focus lies on local and high quality produce. Evans (2010: 130) suggests that the "pocket" in pocket market comes from planning practices, where it implies a smaller version of "urban space". Though the term seems to be used mainly in BC (see Chart 2), which gives it its Canadian dimension (Chart 1), there is some evidence of usage in other provinces (see the second 2009 quotation).
The introduction of pocket markets has been credited to the FoodRoots Distributors Cooperative, a non-profit organization in Victoria that works to deliver fresh produce from local farmers to different communities (Evans 2010: 130). The first FoodRoots pocket market was set up in August of 2005 (see FoodRoots reference).
Quotations
2007
"I think it's really important to support the local economy and not lose track of what we're eating and who grows it," adds ministry customer Margo Ross, flanked by immense Victoria-grown leeks. But even with lobby service, few shoppers buy their week's worth of groceries at pocket markets, market staffer Kim McKay says. The Community Services outlet sells about $400 worth a week. From March through October, FoodRoots paid $65,000 for 18 tonnes of produce from farmers who got higher than wholesale rates.
2007
Co-founder Susan Tychie said a number of local growers were lamenting one day how many grocers are more interested in purchasing from larger farms that provide bulk pricing. The pocket market idea sprung from that discussion and the weekly mini farm markets are becoming fixtures in neighbourhoods and office building foyers around town. "We're helping the consumer find the local produce and supporting the local farming community," Tychie said.
2008
When a group of Vic West residents set up a local food market in the summer of 2005, they had no idea it would blossom throughout the capital region. That one open-air produce market has led to about 16 other so-called "pocket markets" in the region this summer, providing an outlet for area farmers and a place for urban dwellers to buy locally grown food without driving far, or even at all.
2009
Foods for sale will include fruit, vegetables, nuts, honey, syrups, dairy products, eggs, poultry, meat, flowers and herbs. All products sold at the market must be grown or prepared in Richmond. Steves anticipates more and more pocket markets will pop up.
2009
"The farmers' markets are introducing a new generation to farming and they're interested in participating," says Tabitha McLoughlin, manager of the Coquitlam farmers' market, which has been operating since 1997. "This year, especially, it seems summer jobs on farms are seen as trendy or cool amongst the younger generation. I've been hearing that over and over. The next step has to be finding land but there are lots of barriers." But, she says, there are ways of going forward. Some have formed cooperatives where several farmers share one property. "New models of farming are starting to happen," she says. When farmers couldn't take time away from their work to be at several markets, the Coquitlam branch opened up "pocket markets" where volunteers would pick up the produce and sell it for them. One was established in Port Moody and another on the Simon Fraser University campus.
2009
Through bulk-buying of locally grown produce and by keeping overhead low - the markets are organized by community volunteers and run out of public schools, churches, city housing complexes and parks - the pilot project, known as Nourrir Montréal, is able to offer prices lower than what they would otherwise be. "We call them pocket markets," said Josée Belleau, coordinator of the project.
2010
Pocket markets are alternative retail marketing arrangements whereby community organizers serve as intermediaries who purchase locally grown and processed foods from area farmers and small-scale food producers and sell them to the public, with the goal of benefiting both producers and urban consumers. The term "pocket" is borrowed from planning practice, referencing miniature versions of urban spaces, such as "vest pocket" parks (North, 1969). Within British Columbia, Canada, pocket markets were first pioneered by FoodRoots Distributors Cooperative, a not-for-profit cooperative that distributes local and naturally grown and processed foods throughout greater Victoria. They began operating pocket markets in 2005 [...] FoodRoots broadly defined a pocket market as a "'mini' version of a Farmers Market" that can be run by local farmers or backyard growers selling directly to the public or through a not-for-profit organization, such as FoodRoots (FoodRoots, n.d, Sec. 2). After learning of FoodRoots's experience, four community-based organizations in metropolitan Vancouver began testing the model in subsequent years.
2011
Saanich could be getting its version of the Moss Street Market, after council endorses the idea of "pocket markets" in the municipality to promote a sustainable food system and give local growers more places to sell products. Residents will be able to provide their two cents on the whens and wheres of the plan at a public hearing sometime after the Nov. 19 election. A pocket market, similar to a farmers market, is a temporary location for vendors to set up tables and sell produce and other goods directly to consumers.
2012
Several groups also organize pocket markets, a sort of mini-farmers market that brings in locally grown fresh foods, often for sale below market price to benefit seniors and needy families.
2014
Summer flashed by and it’s time to “fall” back into the student routine again. With this in mind, the FoodWorks Student Organizer (from the CapU Works Program) will be hosting the first Farmers “Pocket” Market on Tuesday September 16th here at CapU!
The market will be from 11-3pm and located at the Birch Courtyard by the bookstore and theatre!
References
- FoodRoots Distributors Co-op • "The Pocket Market Toolkit"
- Evans (2010)
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 14 Mar. 2014
