Economically and environmentally speaking, what are the benefits of what are the benefits of local farmer markets? local farmer markets?

COMPARE AND CONTRAST STUDY BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL SUPERSTORES  MOST FOOD CARRIED THERE TRAVELS LONG DISTANCES BEFORE REACHING CONSUMERS  TRANSPORTATION ADDS TO: POLLUTION FINAL COST MORE GARBAGE DUE TO PACKAGING NEEDED FOR TRANSPORTATION LOCAL FARMER MARKETS  FOOD CARRIED THERE IS LOCALLY GROWN  TRANSPORTATION HAS: LITTLE IMPACT ON POLLUTION VERY MINOR IMPACT ON FINAL COST NO GARBAGE ADDED

METHODS USED IN FOOD PRODUCTION  CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE USES UNSUSTAINABLE METHODS THAT POLLUTE: WATER SOIL AIR  ORGANIC AND MINIMALLY TREATED CROPS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY: NO SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS NO PETROLEUM BASED PESTICIDES NO IMPACT ON WATER, SOIL OR AIR

HOW THE MONEY GENERATED IN BOTH MARKETS IS SPENT? CONVENTIONAL SUPERMARKETS MOST JOBS AVAILABLE ARE PER HOUR WITH LOW RATES FINANCIAL GAINS ARE ADDED TO CORPORATE PROFITS. INVESTMENTS TARGET MAINLY NEW COMMUNITIES BUT NOT THE ONES WHERE PROFITS WERE GENERATED BUT: FOOD PREFERENCES ARE SHAPED BY PRICES LOCAL FARMER MARKETS A HIGHER INPUT IS MATCHED WITH HIGHER EARNING MONEY GENERATED IS BEING CIRCULATED LOCALLY COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATING OR EXPANDING EXISTING MARKETS BONUS: CUSTOMER HAS DIRECT INTERACTION WITH FOOD PRODUCER: PREFERENCES ARE NOT LINKED TO PRICES

PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP MODEL APPLIED TO:  ENVIRONMENT COOP CARRIES ONLY ORGANIC, MINIMALLY TREATED AND LOCALLY GROWN CROPS RECYCLES CARDBOARDS RETURNS CRATES TO FARMERS EDUCATES MEMBERS ABOUT BRINGING REUSABLE BAGS USES RECYCLED PAPER FOR OFFICE USE  ECONOMY MEMBERS MANDATORY MONTHLY WORKING SLOTS HELP REDUCE COOP’S EXPENSES BIG CHUNK OF PROFIT IS INVESTED IN OFFERING LARGE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES MEMBERS HAVE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING COOP BENEFITS FROM SPECIAL TARIFFS FROM FARMERS, CARRIERS AND RECYCLING COMPANIES  COMMUNITIES WEEKLY FOOD DONATIONS TO SOUP KITCHEN COOP OFFERS MEMBERS SLOTS AND ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE SEEKING THE CREATION OF SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS