The Green Trade project continues to make headway successfully and to embark on new initiatives for promoting the sustainability of markets this year
Green Trade already has more than six hundred affiliated establishments. The project also includes the launching of parallel initiatives for improving the sustainability of markets.
Green Trade was one of the main initiatives of Barcelona World Capital of Sustainable Food 2021. Its goal is to promote the organic, local and seasonal products offered by establishments in the city’s municipal markets. Launched jointly by the Barcelona Municipal Institute of Markets (IMMB), the Commissioner for Social Economy, Local Development and Food Policy at Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Federation of Municipal Markets (FEMM), the initiative represents a quantitative leap forward in the range of local, organic, small-producer, farmer and market products that are consumed in Barcelona.
It is essential for city residents to have easy access to healthy, organic, local products and for the distribution of such products to reach every district and neighbourhood, so we can take the first step towards transforming our food system. Hence the crucial role of municipal markets, as promoters of healthy food and examples for other shops in their local neighbourhoods to follow.
June last year also saw the launch of the project’s pilot test in six city markets. More specifically, the project began by highlighting the value of local products and environmentally friendly produce, in other words the organic produce already being sold in markets.
The initiative was gradually expanded and, by mid-September, there was already a total of 566 food establishments in the city’s markets offering products such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, poultry and eggs, meat, bacon, cooked meats and cheeses, with correct product labelling.
This labelling features several categories: local, organic produce, that is, all the products included in the project; farmer’s produce such as fruit, greens, poultry and eggs; wholesale market and fish products, and own-prepared produce, such as many of the meat products.
By December 2021, the number of affiliated establishments had reached 619. This shows great initiative on the part of the city’s shops for advancing towards more sustainable, local food that can bring about a fair economy.
All the work on the project has been coordinated by the Municipal Institute of Markets, Barcelona World Capital of Sustainable Food for 2021, the guilds of the establishments involved and the Barcelona Federation of Municipal Markets (FEMM). Green Trade will continue to develop in 2022, accompanied by other initiatives for improving the sustainability of the city’s markets, such as single-use plastic waste prevention and renewable-energy integration.
Watch out for the next Green Trade initiatives and take a look at the variety of products available in the city’s municipal markets!
