- FARMERS MARKET CONTAINERIZED -


Urban Farmers Markets.
A new generation of urban farmers.

Municipality supports the establishment and operation of local origin agricultural markets in parallel with the creation of "urban farmers groups" according to the legislation in force, in the framework of joint cooperation with municipal enterprises. A clear distinction between "urban farmers" and "professional sellers" with the latter not to participate takes place, and the right to participate only have the main profession urban farmers registered in the municipality's registers. The objective of this effort is the establishment of a "food distribution network without intermediaries" within the urban fabric of each municipality, with the creation of a "new generation of urban farmers" able to offer agricultural products with certified standards and competitive "social prices", lower up to 30% without any mediation. These markets operate in specially designed inactive public spaces, and they are open on a daily basis as supermarkets of agricultural products, with the aim to reduce the financial pressure on households by relieving their shrunken incomes as consumers. Urban Farmers Markets give to municipalities an additional "social strategy" to reduce urban poverty and food insecurity with the expansion of the urban food system, and act as a force multiplier in social policy and their structures. They are the "innovative social intervention tools" that convert abandoned urban municipal properties in food distribution centers, directly connected to the quality of life in the most economically depressed areas of the urban fabric.

Social stores basic model.

A) Construction method (CPB / Containerized Prefab Blocks)
The "design innovation" is the buildings construction of market's infrastructure, where no conventional constructions of reinforced concrete (beton) are applied, but as a basic building block shipping containers 40 ft (general type) are used, modificated to shops under the national regulations in force.
B) Market’s constructional composition
A complete "basic model" consists of the following containers:
* 8 shipping containers 40 ft, modified to  house 32 shops (7.2 sq.m. each).
* 1 shipping container 40 ft, for storing fresh agricultural products.
* 1 shipping container 40 ft, for preserving fresh agricultural products (freezer).
The market is supported by portable chemical toilets (WC), specially shaped spaces for the collection and disposal of waste, transport network, water and electric grid infrastructures. The whole installation is operated with an integrated water and wastewater recycling system of international technical standards, with zero outflow of wastewater to the environment.
C) Consumers traffic and products sales
International surveys based on factors influencing the demand such as the size and composition of the population as well as consumer expenditure based on disposable income, calculated that such an Urban Farmers Market presents the following features:
* It serves daily 1,500-1,800 consumers with a weekly visits cycle of approximately 11,000 consumers.
* Average sales 7 kg/person of fruits and vegetables (the continuous flow of fresh agricultural products is estimated at 11-13 ton/week = 130-150 ton/year).

Parallel operation of herbs and flowers market.

On top of market’s containers special flower and herb stands will be incorporated in order to offer a range of quality products at competitive prices to satisfy the demands of consumers in this field. The particular space can accommodate free festivals of traditional seeds distribution, presentations, information sessions and practice workshops, through which producers and processors will share together with participants knowledge and skills.