ZERO KM MARKET

 

• WORDS 
• Denotes 
• Storage
• Overseen
• food sovereignty 
• big price margins
• global food players
• Joint
• 
  
• Zero km food (0 km food) is a concept which a few years ago appeared also in Italy. It denotes the food produced, sold and eaten locally – the food which travels zero kilometres. Mainly it refers to non-industrial fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, honey etc, which does not go through global trade chains, therefore it does not have big price margins and quality lost during long storage in international supermarkets. 
• Zero KM Food is a production and sales philosophy that combines pleasure and knowledge for eating. It brings advantages for environmental and human health and increases employment and savings for consumers and the public purse, through savings in oil, which represents 35% of product distribution costs
• It also has an important ecological aspect which can not be overseen – since there is no transport involved (we buy maybe local food from the shop on the corner of the zero km market and the environment does not suffer from direct and indirect pollution. 
• The consciousness of the Italians in some places is very high when it comes to supporting the local trade and local economy and this is out of the fact that Italians want food that they regard as genuine. 

  Why is this concept relevant for sustainable development? For several reasons! First, it is highly connected to food sovereignty – the right of people to define their own food systems. 

• Both countries and local communities should have the right and possibilities to grow their own food, and decrease the dependence on global food players. Secondly, zero km food supports the rare and unique food species which should be kept and not lost. An example is more than 100 species of potatoes in Ecuador which continue to exist and support eco-diversity in that country.

• Concepts like “100% local” and “zero kilometres” products are now on an upward trend also in Spain and are forcing the food industry to rethink how it does business. 

  But it is not easy to bring together local producers and industries.

  Why? Because the most readily available products, in terms of proximity, are not always the cheapest for customers and because production depends on seasonal foods, meaning regional produce is not always easy to come by.

• In Italy, 74.1% of Italians prefer Made in Italy products and 80% of respondents opt for seasonal fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, 75.4% of consumers check labels to be aware of food origin, some of them mainly pick Dop, Igp or Doc certified products, and some others usually choose local products, called zero kilometre products, which come from places close to where you live (59.3%). Young people seem to be more interested in buying organic food than others. 

  
  

  • In the Uk, the zero Kilometres idea seems to have given way to the farmers market which although keeping some of the zero Kms ideas is still selling food that has to be flown in. Brockley Market in the UK Located in Lewisham College car park is a  friendly weekly market and a great place to pick up some quality groceries. The focus is on locally-sourced seasonal food, whether that’s a joint for your Sunday lunch, your basic supply of fresh fruit and veg, or cakes, artisan bread, cheese and charcuterie for a special occasion. Highlights include free-range poultry from Fosse Meadow and excellent Spanish cheeses and chorizo from Flavours of Spain

  • 1. What's the difference between Farmer's market and Zero kilometre markets?

  • 2.What is a global food player?

  • 3.What are young Italians more interested in?

  • 4.What does it mean to check an article

  • 5. Is it important for zero kilometres markets to be cheap or well priced?

  • 6.Are zero kilometre markets according to the text biological?

  
  

•