Recent years have seen a strong trend toward the development of alternative food systems, often drawing heavily on local and “embedded” markets. These systems are often defined in contrast to “conventional systems” that traditionally rely on intensive inputs of labor, chemicals, and long-distance distribution networks to produce standardized commodities. Alternative food systems have emerged as a response to the [Page 459]dissipating connection between food systems and ecological systems brought about by the globalization trend. Community supported agriculture programs, food cooperatives, and farmers’ markets are increasingly common marketing choices used by producers and consumers to create a match between consumption ideals and local products.

A farmers’ market, at its root, is a temporary venue for the exchange of goods, generally farm goods, from the producer directly to ...