Agrifood markets: practices, Biocultural values and social interactions mediated by fair shoppers

Abstract

The market is a historically situated place defined by a set of laws, norms and agreements created and modified by different actors that operate mercantile and symbolic exchanges. The delimitation of these spaces of exchange, price formation, interactions and evaluative dimensions is the concept of markets used in this study. In this sense, it is
understood that small rural producers are important actors in the short food supply chain that links producer to final
consumer. However, they are still marginalized in this value chain, affecting food sustainability and the livelihoods
of small agri-food chains. Considering this panorama and the importance of the theme, this study was guided by the
objective of understanding the phenomenon of creating markets from social interactions established between the actors involved in the agri-food network of small rural producers, and with that to identify opportunities to add greater value to the small farmers in an agricultural value chain. The results point to the valorization of the biocultural heritage as an attribute that guarantees local recognition and the importance of exchanges and social dynamics established between fairgrounds, recognized in practices interconnected through chains of translations involving various intermediaries, favoring social sustainability and economic inclusion.