Organic News Issue 2

The activity gathered Alessandro Portinaro (Turin), Jordi Tolrà (Barcelona) Hassan Acanal
(Istanbul) and Mattia Sifredi (Marseille), moderate and presented by Bruno Héraud-Giraud, president
of the CICM (Le Conservatoire International des Cuisines Méditerranéennes).
Alessandro Portinaro highlighted, among
other questions, the importance that the
local markets broaden the number of foods for sale
produced in the proximity, for contributing in this
way to the alimentary sovereignty and to the sustainability.
The Conservatoria Del Piermonte and
the Town Council of Turin are promoting this trend
in the theirs markets and especially with the Torino
Food Market Festival that is celebrated annually.
Jordi Tolrà explained the Barcelona model
of modernization of the markets, a real success
programme thanks to joint efforts of both the
administration and the traders. Barcelona has modernized
and has remodeled in the last 15 years a total
of 16 of the city’s covered markets (market halls).
Mattia Sifredi, of the ADEAR 13 (Association
de Développement de l’Emploi
Agricole et Rural) of Marseille, he pointed out the
importance of introducing in the market mix a larger
number of biological products and food produced in
the proximity, as a way to stimulate the local agriculture.
The ADEAR has managed to create a total of 5
farmer markets in the last 10 years in the Department
13 (Bouches du Rhône)
Hasan Acanal, representing of the Egyptian
Market (Misr Bazar) of Istanbul, better
known as a Market of the Spices, explained how this
market creates neighbourhood ties and how the trade
stimulates all the zone. He also introduced the different
typology of markets in Turkey, the origins of
which are very antique even though they take the current
form in the Ottoman period.
http://www.medemporion.eu/index.php/contents/details/are-the-mediterranean-markets-a-good-model-for-the-european-union
MARKETS,
TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Food markets are an institution in Europe
and have existed for centuries. Europe’s history
is built upon the history of its markets and its great
traders, who traveled all over the continent exchanging
their products. The sea played a key role in trade development,
especially the Mediterranean. Sailors traveled
through a web of routes of unlimited scope, principally
for trading, but these trips also spread new ideas and
inventions.
According to historians, Phoenicians reached
Cornwall in Great Britain, where they
bought tin and exchanged products. Ancient Greeks
travelled all over Europe trading a wide range of food
products. Roman merchants hired huge vessels to carry
their valuable freight of wine, olive oil and grains. Many
cities were built up around their central markets during
the Middle Ages. Markets have at all times been a key
piece in the building of cities and also in the European
building process.
new Europe is being built. Its social model
A and foundation are currently being defined.
The vast experience of the EMPORION markets has
shown that investing in markets means investing in cities
and citizen’s the quality of life. Thus EMPORION
seeks to promote markets as a crucial, essential tool in
the Europe building project.
Public food markets are the best place to start
in order to promote public health by means
of adequate nutrition. As thriving social and commerce
centers, markets also contribute to a vibrant cityscape,
and promote contact between citizens. Markets are
closer and to the people than the shopping superstores
sales model, which add little to the liveliness or unique
character of city centers, and build stores on the outskirts.
M
arkets such as Porta Palazzo in Turin,
Központi Vásárcsarnok in Budapest, Borough
Market in London, the Markets of Lyon and La
Boqueria Market in Barcelona are good examples of
what markets can do for those cities that believe in improving
themselves and their citizens’ quality of life.
market
WORLD OF MARKETS
Source
ISSUE II 19