31 May 2023
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New non-profit organisation presents unified global approach.
THE World Farmers Markets Coalition General Assembly, held in Rome recently, gave representatives of growers’ markets from all over the world the opportunity to exchange products and knowledge.
WorldFMC is a new Rome-based non-profit organisation that brings together more than 70 associations from more than 50 different countries, representing 20,000 markets, 200,000 farming families and more than 300 million consumers. It cultivates and serves a community of practice for farmers’ markets to benefit growers, consumers, communities and the environment around the world.
At the General Assembly, 100 agricultural and community development leaders from around the world gathered for the first time to introduce a farmers’ market community of practice to the world. This community of practice was established to formalise the mandate for the organisation, share best practices and reinforce a sense of camaraderie for cultivating purposeful and managed farmers’ markets. UN agencies attended and there were panel discussions based on strengthening local food systems worldwide, including conversations around economic impact and reviving rural economies through farmers markets.
Richard McCarthy, an international board member of Slow Food, was elected president. Slow Food is a worldwide network of local communities founded in 1989 in order to counteract the disappearance of local food traditions and the spread of fast food culture.
Carmelo Troccoli, Executive Director of the Campagna Amica Foundation, which promotes and supports Italian agriculture, was appointed General Manager.
Richard said the new organisation is "devoted to crafting farmers’ markets that serve family farmers, consumers and the communities that host markets”. “This strategy rebuilds the social contract that binds regions,” he said.
For more information about the new organisation click here.
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