Country: Hungary
Wellbeing of Farmers: Mental Wellbeing, Social Wellbeing
Key Challenges: Low farm income (market vulnerability), Lack of attractiveness of certain farming profession, Pressure from society/negative perceptions
Key Target Groups: Young farmers, Female farmers, Older farmers
Farm Size: Small/Family, Medium
Find Out More
Email: szimplapiac@gmail.com
Organization: SzimplaCity Kft. Agri Kulti Kft.
Relevant Links:
Summary
The Szimpal Farmers’ Market has been operating since the year 2012 in the 7th district of Budapest (capital city of Hungary), sharing location with Szimpla Kert, the legendary, internationally recognized place of nightlife, exhibitions, cultural acts and other social events. In the farmers’ market, around 30-40 small-scale producers sell their fresh and processed products every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The initiative provides a special environment, mood, community and cultural experience, regular and well-established program opportunities, and the diverse forms of social interaction for both farmers/producers and consumers, by running a place in Budapest city center with ‘ruin pub’ design, special meals, exhibitions, concerts, charity events, and the combination of these.
Objective
Increasing urban consumers’ knowledge and trust towards agricultural producers that enhances the social recognition and value of the latter
Opportunity for farmers
- to move out of everyday working environment to a different (urban, highly relational) place of international interest
- to experience social responsibility by participating at social events and charity actions
- to build relationships with other farmers, civil organizations, artists, consumers from the local, and distant places too
- to gain prestige and strengthen own brand by being present in Szimpla Kert
- to do sales in a place where selling and buying are both an experience
Activities
- Providing a famous, special place for direct sales that is situated in the city centre and reaches a lot of local and international visitors
- Compiling a buffet table of the marketer farmers’ products
- Offering a broad range of programs (e.g. flea market, record fair, dog market, concerts, plays, gastronomy events, workshops etc.) for consumers
- Organization of recurring charity events where the producers of the local market are involved
Main Outcome of the activity
- Farmers’ market: place for direct sales between farmers and consumers
- Involvement of 30-40 small-scale producers
- Creation of a non-competitive environment by limiting the number of producers in a certain branch
- Events of civil organizations based on the locally selling farmers’s products
- Friendly, familiar community of farmers
- Pride and prestige
- Strengthened linkages between farmers and consumers, civil organizations, and other stakeholders
Main Practical Recommendations
Szimpla Farmers’ Market is a long-established, well-known project that serves the well-being of involved farmers/producers by providing special environment for social encounters, sales of quality products, cultural experiences and exercising social responsibility.
Key Stakeholders Involved
- 30-40 small-scale producers
- market organizers
- producer organizations
- civilian organizations (at charity events)
- volunteers
Most Innovative Aspects of the Solution
The project implements an innovation by the combination of utilizing space, organizing market and events, building community and cooperation.
The fact that the market operates in a cult place and that it enriches itself with many ways of networking and learning, makes the Szimpla Farmers’ Market much more than a market: a cultural living space that is not primarily economic in the lives of the participating producers, but adds value to the quality of their lives.