Farmers ’ Markets in Low-Income Neighbourhoods: Confronting the Dilemma Between Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability

Farmers ’ markets have proliferated in North America over the last decade. Seemingly a panacea for local, organic food, most successful markets in Canada are located in middle class neighbourhoods. Community food security advocates across the U.S., however, have linked food access for low-income communities with farmers ’ markets through an interesting federal program, “the farmers ’ market nutrition program”. These markets confront the central dilemma for community food security: how to address social justice and environmental sustainability simultaneously. This paper draws on the results of a community-based research project undertaken in 2002 by two low-income communities in Toronto to assess the feasibility of starting farmers’ markets in their neighbourhoods. In 2003, farmers ’ markets were started in both communities, which are located in two of Canada’s most ethno-culturally diverse neighbourhoods. A reflection on this experience reveals the complexity of addressing food access issues and supporting organic agriculture in diverse, low-income neighbourhoods. I argue that the two issues cannot be addressed simultaneously with out subsidies, incentives and policy support. In addition, creativity and compromise on behalf of market organizers is essential. This paper will explore the lessons learned through these market projects, and the differences between the Canadian and U.S. contexts related to community food security programs. I suggest that farmers ’ markets are under researched spaces, and offer a valuable place for beginning to understand – theoretically and practically – the challenges involved in marrying social justice and environmental sustainability