GENERAL INFORMATION

MARKET DIRECTORY

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SOULARD HISTORY

Public Markets provide needed goods and services such as farm fresh fruits and vegetables, ethic foods, crafts and personal services that are often unavailable at the same level of quality, variety and price.

Public Goals of Public Markets:

• attracting customers to urban areas
• supporting affordable retailing opportunities for small businesses
• addressing the problems of street vending
• providing opportunities to farmers thereby preserving farmland
• activating the use of public space
• providing quality produce to urban customers where supermarkets are unavailable or limited

Within the U.S. and abroad, public markets have long shown themselves to be effective tools in efforts to revitalize urban communities.

Economically, Public Markets provide things that budding entrepreneurs cannot create themselves:

• viable locations in which to sell their products or services
• shared marketing and promotional programs
• customers attracted to the total market experience
• economic opportunity regardless of an individual's existing resources

Throughout the world, public markets are the main source of food distribution. Europe boasts about 80,000 markets. Barcelona, Spain, with a population of more than two million, distributes 81 percent of its food through public markets. In Italy, it is 55 percent.