Short circuit commercialization: a study on the open markets of family farming in Canindé, Ceará

Abstract

Fairs have been commercialization spaces since the beginning of civilization and human culture, being an important way of exchanging, not only goods, but also culture and popular knowledge. This study was carried out in 2022 in Canindé-CE, a Brazilian municipality with the largest number of Agrarian Reform settlements, and aimed to tell the story of the Canindé open market, as well as to highlight its importance for the flow of agricultural products from family agriculture and to trace the profile of farmers, and how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed commercial relations. Forms and interviews were used to collect data from farmers and consumers. It was recorded that most farmers are male, although the presence and importance of women is unquestionable. Producers have fairs as their only or main source of income. Most consumers find what they are looking for at fairs and consider the price to be fair. The consumption of organic products suffers from unavailability or little identification. It is concluded that the importance of the open market is unquestionable for the income of farmers and the access of consumers to quality food at a fair price, in addition to making public support essential for the strengthening of the fair and local family farming.