The Urban Farmers - Assignment Example

The Urban Farmers The Urban Farmers of the program The American society comprises a multicultural population, which shows similarities towards healthy eating; hence, the introduction of the Lane County Farmers Market in 1915 targeted to provide Oregon food consumers in the Eugene locality with locally produced and sourced entities. Despite its closure in the 1950s following heightened competitions from the local population, the reopening of the market in the 1970s elevated the performance of the local farmers.

Currently, the community acquires distinct advantages from consuming the wide range of provisions provided in the market by the farmers. It is realistic that the provisions are fresh; thus, the hygiene and health benefits accrued remain evident compared to the provisions availed by various supermarkets whose sources rest unknown to Eugene’s consumers. In the present, the market provides an uncontested array of provisions ranging from farm products to local artwork. Therefore, the journal’s mission through the volunteered project would assert the ongoing clientele and pricing practices in the market.

An hourly journal of the activities during the 3-hour voluntary serviceIn April 24 2015, I volunteered to assess and establish the pricing and consumer practices in the market. 0900hrs-0929hrs- Arrival and evaluation of the number of farmers in the market, their products, and the differentiation in packaging of the fresh farm produce. 0930hrs-0959hrs- assessment of the random population of consumer groups entering and exiting the market. It is realistic that 50% of the clients entering target vegetable products.

Another 10% of the clients seek the attention of floral farmers. The remaining 40% population of clients targets plants and animal product farmers.1000hrs-1029hrs- The clients’ visit distinct farmers in the market. It is evident from the random population of clientele that some of farmers could be unknown to the clients in accordance to the behavioral practices. 1030hrs-1059hrs- Visiting the floral and vegetable farmers irrespective of the evident consumer interests to evaluate the pricing practices, which could be establishing the differences.

1100hrs-1129hrs- Visiting the farmers the animal and plant products’ to analyze the ongoing pricing practices and differences. 1130hrs-1200hrs- Analyzing the differences in prices. It is recommended that farmers need to implement similar pricing models, which would avoid the unfair competition prevailing in the current market structure. Narrative of the volunteer work benefits from a personal and social perspective as a Eugene residentThe volunteer program in the evaluating the customer counts at Alley Street and in assessing the pricing practices shown by the farmers served towards the recognition of the potential economic yield that one would accrue from consuming the local products.

Personally, the social practices shown by Lane County Farmers’ Market participants influenced the perception that they were devoted to ensure organic farming practices for healthy consumption. I realized that the prices were different amongst the competing farmers. However, it is evident that the prices were economical compared to those stipulated by the giant supermarkets on the same products. Therefore, buying and consuming products from the Lane County Farmers’ Market would serve in economic progression to the consumers and suppliers accordingly.

ReferencesMatts, C., Conner, D. S., Fisher, C., Tyler, S., & Hamm, M. W. (2015). Farmer perspectives of Farm to Institution in Michigan: 2012 survey results of vegetable farmers. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 1-12.