The US retail market sector is being reborn as part of a backlash against the multiples, it was revealed last week.
The government has backed this movement with a $35 million (£20m) farmers’ markets promotion programme, for the next five years.
The industry has in many cases had to be rebuilt from scratch, following the conversion or demolition of a number of traditional market halls over the last few decades.
Steve Davies, senior vice-president of New York-based Project for Public Spaces, told the WUWM congress that the regeneration of a string of markets and their surrounding areas is a response to consumers re-evaluating their shopping experiences and values.
Back in 2000, there were 2,863 farmers’ markets operating in the US and this had jumped to 3,700 by 2006.
Chelsea Market and Greenmarket in New York, Ferry Terminal Market in San Francisco, Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and Eastern Market in Detroit are just some of the markets that have been revitalised and in turn given their surrounding areas a boost.
Davies, pictured, said: “There has been investment in markets because of their broader benefits, as well as the access they provide to healthy food.
“Markets need to be seen as part of the local economic strategy and we need to build up farmers’ markets as the most viable part of our local food system…
“Buying food was originally a social experience. Markets are a wonderful way to assimilate a street, town or city, but they are so much more complex than that and can be the heart of the community.
“The desire for people to come together in public spaces has never been stronger, as consumers try to counter the globalisation of supermarket chains and malls. That personal service is what people want.
“Public markets have public goals and achieve something other than the purchase of food. Consumers like social experience, as opposed to the lack of this in supermarkets.”
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