A network of producers, farmers and processors who meet and enliven places to shop, get to know each other and eat in company. A market managed by a community, with shared values and rules. The second experiment of the Farmers' Market in the city of Andria aspires to this. Below are some guidelines to be able to apply for the event and to be present with your products on the day of the market which will be held on 15 September 2023, from 17.00 to 23.00, at the Villa Comunale “G. Marano".
The spirit that animates the Farmer's Market is to collect foods and wines that are good for the palate, clean for the environment and right for people. Finding space - free of charge and in the stalls made available by the organization - will only be local and seasonal products, offered only by those who produce what they sell; the sales will also be accompanied by moments of entertainment and food education workshops. The establishment of the Farmer's Market aims to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of agricultural entrepreneurs, enhance local agricultural production, satisfy the needs of consumers for the purchase of agricultural products that have a direct link with the production area and contribute to the reduction of the costs of distribution and transport of goods.
The perspective is to provide producers and consumers with an opportunity to shorten the purchase chain, eliminating intermediate steps with a consequent reduction in the time between collection and consumption, a reduction in air pollution deriving from the transport of goods and a decrease in the final price . The agricultural entrepreneur will thus be able to have new sales opportunities and make the quality of the products directly perceptible to the consumer, guaranteeing a secure source of origin.
In particular, the Farmer's Market was created to:
to. Promote the meeting between supply and demand of traditional, local and quality agri-food products;
b. Shorten the production chain, promoting local development;
c. Promote direct sales carried out with transparent labeling, fair prices and guarantees on the origin of the foods;
d. Promote food education, knowledge and respect for the territory also through educational and demonstration activities to be carried out within the market;
And. Promote relations between citizens and models of sustainable development.
The holding of farmers' markets reserved for direct sales by entrepreneurs, in application of the Decree of the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Resources of 11/20/2007, is subject to compliance with the provisions of these Guidelines which will be applied in execution of the project "Andria Food Policy Hub - Part ESF", funded by the Puglia Region, POR Puglia FESR-FSE 2014-2020 - Priority axis III - Action 3.2 - Priority axis IX - Action 9.3 - Regional program "PUGLIASOCIALEIN" - Social innovation hub - CUP B84J21000130009. The purpose of this regulation is to establish the rules for participation in the Farmer's Market of the Municipality of Andria reserved for direct sales by agricultural entrepreneurs and small artisans who transform the food world.
Keywords of the Farmer's Market are:
- Fair prices, for those who buy and those who produce;
- Fresh food, rich in flavor and linked to the culture of the area;
- Local products, respectful of the environment and health;
- New meeting spaces between consumers and food producers;
- Environmental sustainability with the commitment to produce as little waste as possible, dispose of it correctly with attention to energy saving and use of consumables that are as biodegradable as possible.
Manufacturers
The Farmer's Market is reserved only for farms of direct production. The main protagonists of the market are those categories of producers who find it more difficult to deal with the large-scale distribution circuit, but whose company size often allows them to present quality products.
Those who are admitted to the Farmer's Market see the possibility of correct remuneration for their work recognized and at the same time undertake to treat their employees correctly. The main assumption is that they only present their products, the result of their commitment and experience. With direct presence, they can create a bond with consumers, describing the products they take responsibility for, the work that underpins them, what defines their quality and justifies the price charged.
Agricultural entrepreneurs pursuant to art. 2135 of the Italian Civil Code, as amended by art. 1 paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree no. 228/01, "those who carry out the activity of land cultivation, forestry, animal breeding and related activities", registered in the register of companies referred to in article 8 of the law of 29 December 1993, n. 580, including cooperatives of agricultural entrepreneurs and their consortia when they use the members' products for carrying out their activities, or mainly supply members with goods and services aimed at the care and development of the biological cycle, as well as partnerships and limited liability companies, established by agricultural entrepreneurs, who exclusively carry out activities aimed at the manipulation, conservation, transformation, marketing and enhancement of agricultural products sold by the members.
The sales activity within the farmer's market is exercised by the owners of the company, or by the partners in the case of agricultural companies and those referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, by the related family members, as well as by the employees of each business. Artisanal food processors are also admitted within the limit of 20 percent of agricultural exhibitors. These exhibitors will in any case be evaluated, for the purpose of admission, by the Food Policy Hub of the city of Andria
Products
The objective remains that of preserving the food culture of the community hosting the market and contributing to the defense of biodiversity. Inside the market there is a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, preserves, meat, dairy products, eggs, honey, sweets, bread, oil, wine and every product that belongs to the local food culture. Products that present quality certifications such as organic products, Dop, Igp, Doc, Igt, Stg, etc. are always welcome.
For this reason, during the farmer's market the sale of agricultural products from one's own company or from the company of agricultural entrepreneur members is permitted, also obtained as a result of manipulation or transformation activities, in any case falling within the regular agricultural activities of the company. Only agricultural products compliant with the provisions of food hygiene regulations are offered for sale, labeled in compliance with the regulations in force for the individual products and with the indication of the place of territorial origin and the manufacturing company. Within the direct sales farmer's market, the exercise of the transformation of agricultural products by agricultural entrepreneurs is permitted in compliance with hygiene and health standards. The sale of live and slaughtered animals is always prohibited.
Application for participation
Companies interested in participating must submit the application via pec, under penalty of exclusion, to the address: info@pec.andriafoodpolicyhub.it no later than 12.00 on 06/09/2023. The application is attached to these Guidelines and must be duly completed before sending. Compilation errors could cause exclusion from participation. Together with the application form, it is also necessary to complete and send the company information sheet, which is also attached to this document.
They have precedence in the assignment of the areas, until the stalls are exhausted, foreseen in number of 15, assigned on the basis of the chronological criterion of arrival of the requests:
1) owners of farms residing in the municipality of Andria with the same falling within the territory of the municipality of Andria;
2) owners of farms residing in the municipality of Andria with the same falling in neighboring territories;
3) owners of non-resident farms in the Municipality of Andria with companies located in the Municipality of Andria;
4) owners of non-resident farms in the Municipality of Andria with companies located in neighboring Municipalities.
It remains necessary to meet the requirements set out in article 4, paragraph 6, of the legislative decree of 18 May 2001, n. 228, including having complied with the obligation to report primary producer registration and related activities (EC Reg. n. 852/04 and D.G.R. n.275/06);
Stalls
The Andria Farmer's Market provides for the allocation of 15 stalls to be allocated to exhibitors who request them. In the event of a greater number of applications than the available stalls, the spaces will be assigned based on the chronological criterion of arrival of the applications. The assignment will concern a single stand and will take place, in compliance with this document, taking into account the criterion of the product differentiation of the products present.
The assigned operator of the stand must notify the Food Policy Hub of any absence at least five days before the event, justifying the reasons. No concessionaire can use more than one stand at the same time in the same market. The concessionaire has the right to use the stand for all the products involved in its business, pursuant to art. 8, paragraph 12, Regional Law 18/1995.
Obligations by authorized agricultural entrepreneurs
The following obligations are established by farmers:
to. Only sell products from your own farm;
b. Provide the organization of the Farmer's Market with all the information necessary for the regular presentation at the Sportello Unico Productive Activities of the declaration of start of activity for the sale of the food sector (art. 6 EC REGULATION n. 852/04 and D.G.R. n. 275 OF 16.05. 2006)
- it should be noted that the costs for carrying out the administrative and bureaucratic procedures are the responsibility of the organization;
c. Install the equipment in such a way as not to alter public land, in particular it is forbidden to drive in poles or spikes, move the pavement;
d. Restore and leave the assigned space clean at the end of the market.
Activities related to the direct sale of agricultural products
Within the farmer's market, cultural, educational and demonstration activities related to local food, traditional and artisanal products can be organised.
Synergies and exchanges with other authorized markets may also be achieved. If duly communicated to the organization and indicated in the specific S.C.I.A. at the S.U.A.P of the Municipality of Andria, the activity of tasting and administering food of its own production, always in compliance with the regulations on hygiene and food safety.
Parking space occupation
It is mandatory to go to the market area at least one hour before the start of the event (5.00 pm) and it is forbidden to leave the area until the end of the event, scheduled for 11.00 pm. The organization will be in charge of the technical-logistic preparation of the spaces, based on the requests received.
Prices
The agricultural entrepreneur is obliged to clearly display the labels and tags on the products offered for sale bearing all the information required by law relating to the characteristics, specifying the origin of the products and the relative prices.
Sanitary requirements of the equipment and personnel involved in the market
Any sales counters other than what is provided by the Municipality of Andria must comply with hygiene-sanitary standards pursuant to EC Regulation n.852/04 and D.G.R. n.275/06 and all the specific regulations in force.
Mobile structures, premises and vending machines for the sale of food must be located, designed and constructed - as well as kept clean and regularly maintained - in such a way as to avoid any risk of contamination.
Surfaces in contact with food must be in good condition, easy to clean and disinfect. They must be made of smooth, washable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic materials. Foodstuffs must be placed in such a way as to avoid, as far as reasonably possible, the risk of contamination.
Persons directly involved in the sale of food products must be in possession of the health suitability requirements established by the provisions in force.
Circulation of vehicles within the market and surveillance activities
The assignment of stands must be carried out compatibly with the need to ensure the passage of emergency and emergency vehicles.
The operators must facilitate the transit in the event that one of them exceptionally has to leave the space assigned before the established time. The control activity of the farmer's market will be verified by the public security bodies.
Exclusion from market access
The Food Policy Hub establishes the exclusion of the agricultural entrepreneur from the farmer's market, notifying the interested party via certified email, in the following cases:
to. for loss of the requirements set out in these Guidelines;
b. for non-compliance with the obligations set out in these Guidelines.
Damage to third parties
The Municipal Administration and the Food Policy Hub decline all responsibility for any damage caused by the participants in the market to people or things, as well as for any failure to comply with tax obligations by the participants.
Reference legislation
Legislative Decree no. 228/01 establishes that agricultural entrepreneurs, single or associated, can directly sell fresh or processed products coming mainly from their own companies in public areas throughout the Italian territory. The Ministerial Decree 20/11/07, in implementation of the art. 1 paragraph 1065 of the Law 27/12/06 n. 296 established uniform requirements and specific standards for the activation of markets reserved for the exercise of direct sales by agricultural entrepreneurs, sales methods and price transparency.
The EC Regulation 852/2004 provides that the farmers' markets comply with the hygienic-sanitary standards and subject to the relative controls by the competent authorities. Therefore, only agricultural products compliant with the regulations in force for the individual products and with the indication of the place of territorial origin and the manufacturing company must be offered for direct sale.
The EC Regulation 853/2004 establishes specific rules on hygiene for products of animal origin. The exercise of the sales activity within the Farmer's Market, in accordance with the provisions of art. 3 paragraph 2 of the D.M. 20/11/2007, is not subject to the regulations on trade.
ANNEX 1 – APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATION
ANNEX 2 – FARM MARKET COMPANY FACT SHEET