Beyond the ‘informal economy’ of food distribution by GRAIN | 29 May 2023 Supermarket Watch Asia Some have adopted terms like “solidarity economy” or “people’s sector” to more accurately convey the important role that the workers of the so-called "informal sector" play in the local economy and their key contribution in providing food to everyone. In this edition of the bulletin, we share stories of resilient Palestinian women farmers producing food boxes and of farmers in Laos using strategies to market their products in the face of a fuel price spike. Some have adopted terms like “solidarity economy” or “people’s sector” to more accurately convey the important role that the workers of the so-called "informal sector" play in the local economy and their key contribution in providing food to everyone. In this edition of the bulletin, we share stories of resilient Palestinian women farmers producing food boxes and of farmers in Laos using strategies to market their products in the face of a fuel price spike.
The need for regulations that protect street vendors from extortion, harassment and evictions by GRAIN | 2 Mar 2023 Supermarket Watch Asia Street vendors are not just a common sight in Asian cities, they are essential to the local economy and food systems. Failure to support street vendors would not only harm their livelihoods but also negatively impact the economy as a whole. Street vendors are not just a common sight in Asian cities, they are essential to the local economy and food systems. Failure to support street vendors would not only harm their livelihoods but also negatively impact the economy as a whole.
One-fifth of total food system emissions comes from global food miles by GRAIN | 7 Dec 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia In this edition of Supermarket Asia Bulletin: One-fifth of total food system emissions comes from global food miles; Is the ‘solidarity economy’ an alternative for China’s urban food supply?; Make Amazon Pay coalition kicks off a new wave of Black Friday strikes and protests; Can Japan feed itself?...And more! In this edition of Supermarket Asia Bulletin: One-fifth of total food system emissions comes from global food miles; Is the ‘solidarity economy’ an alternative for China’s urban food supply?; Make Amazon Pay coalition kicks off a new wave of Black Friday strikes and protests; Can Japan feed itself?...And more!
The urgency to localise food supplies by GRAIN | 31 Aug 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia The localising of food systems offers an important way out of the current corporate domination. World Localisation Day aims to scale back food and economic structures to the level of communities–allowing regions and locales to maintain a steady supply of food for themselves while neoliberal economic forces are kept out. The localising of food systems offers an important way out of the current corporate domination. World Localisation Day aims to scale back food and economic structures to the level of communities–allowing regions and locales to maintain a steady supply of food for themselves while neoliberal economic forces are kept out.
Heat waves and heavier rains: How the climate crisis affects fresh market traders and street vendors by GRAIN | 27 May 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia Record high heatwaves and heavier rains across Asia and other parts of the world in the first few months of this year have led to much harsher conditions for street vendors and fresh market traders. The extreme weather has made it almost impossible to work and has spoiled fresh produce, making it useless for selling. The situation has been disastrous for the incomes of these vendors. Record high heatwaves and heavier rains across Asia and other parts of the world in the first few months of this year have led to much harsher conditions for street vendors and fresh market traders. The extreme weather has made it almost impossible to work and has spoiled fresh produce, making it useless for selling. The situation has been disastrous for the incomes of these vendors.
Defending People's milk: same plight, same fight for peasants and fresh milk vendors by GRAIN | 7 Mar 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia "People's milk", as most call the milk produced from these local networks, involves hundreds of millions of people, from small-scale farmers and pastoralists to local dairy processors and fresh milk vendors. More than 8 million rural families are engaged in dairy production in Pakistan, and, in India, the People's milk sector accounts for 85 per cent of the national milk market. "People's milk", as most call the milk produced from these local networks, involves hundreds of millions of people, from small-scale farmers and pastoralists to local dairy processors and fresh milk vendors. More than 8 million rural families are engaged in dairy production in Pakistan, and, in India, the People's milk sector accounts for 85 per cent of the national milk market.
Ending violence against women street vendors and market traders by GRAIN | 10 Dec 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia On November 25, the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For this occasion, we want to highlight the vulnerability that women street vendors and market traders endure, both physically and economically, and resound the call to end violence against them. On November 25, the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For this occasion, we want to highlight the vulnerability that women street vendors and market traders endure, both physically and economically, and resound the call to end violence against them.
Organising informal traders and local markets by GRAIN | 8 Oct 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia In this bulletin: we talk with a community organiser who has worked for more than a decade with fresh market traders and street vendors; and share how supermarkets became the pandemic’s winners while women workers the losers. In this bulletin: we talk with a community organiser who has worked for more than a decade with fresh market traders and street vendors; and share how supermarkets became the pandemic’s winners while women workers the losers.
One year into the Covid-19 pandemic: the continuous fight & resilience of People’s markets by GRAIN | 23 Jun 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia This edition of Supermarket Watch Asia features summaries of the virtual discussion among fresh market traders, street vendors and organisers from India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines about the current socioeconomic situation and on how to move forward in the context of the ongoing global pandemic. This edition of Supermarket Watch Asia features summaries of the virtual discussion among fresh market traders, street vendors and organisers from India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines about the current socioeconomic situation and on how to move forward in the context of the ongoing global pandemic.
What kind of "markets" are we fighting for? by GRAIN | 24 Feb 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia Calls to “cut out middlemen” or “connect farmers directly to consumers” often come up in discussions about how to build local food systems or support small farmers. But such notions can be misleading for food sovereignty struggles. Small farmers and peasants represent only one node within the complex food web. Calls to “cut out middlemen” or “connect farmers directly to consumers” often come up in discussions about how to build local food systems or support small farmers. But such notions can be misleading for food sovereignty struggles. Small farmers and peasants represent only one node within the complex food web.
International Street Vendors’ Day and the need for collective struggle by GRAIN | 30 Nov 2020 Supermarket Watch Asia It’s the 20th edition of our quarterly Supermarket Asia bulletin. It’s good timing as we celebrate International Street Vendor’s Day on 14th of November - a day calling for the recognition of the contribution street vendors make to our food systems and our lives, and to raise awareness about the significant challenges they face. It’s the 20th edition of our quarterly Supermarket Asia bulletin. It’s good timing as we celebrate International Street Vendor’s Day on 14th of November - a day calling for the recognition of the contribution street vendors make to our food systems and our lives, and to raise awareness about the significant challenges they face.
Between free trade and local markets: Thailand's attempt to enter CPTPP negotiations meets opposition again by GRAIN | 28 Aug 2020 Supermarket Watch Asia In this time of Covid-19, free trade negotiations have not subsided, and are even increasing. In Thailand the government is trying again to join the Trans-Pacific trade agreement, CPTPP. But opposition continues, with increasing demand for fresh, small-scale farm produce and a diversified food system based on local markets. This edition of the Supermarket watch bulletin also includes articles that highlight long term economic impacts and opportunities that Covid-19 creates for street vendors. In this time of Covid-19, free trade negotiations have not subsided, and are even increasing. In Thailand the government is trying again to join the Trans-Pacific trade agreement, CPTPP. But opposition continues, with increasing demand for fresh, small-scale farm produce and a diversified food system based on local markets. This edition of the Supermarket watch bulletin also includes articles that highlight long term economic impacts and opportunities that Covid-19 creates for street vendors.
Food retail in times of Covid-19 by GRAIN | 25 May 2020 Supermarket Watch Asia The first wave of lockdown measures that governments applied triggered panic buying of food, as people, fearing possible shortages, filled up their kitchens and pantries with food supplies to last several weeks. As the restrictions on movement became tighter and as the lockdowns continued, people began to turn more and more to e-retailers for their food purchases. The first wave of lockdown measures that governments applied triggered panic buying of food, as people, fearing possible shortages, filled up their kitchens and pantries with food supplies to last several weeks. As the restrictions on movement became tighter and as the lockdowns continued, people began to turn more and more to e-retailers for their food purchases.
Fresh markets are not to blame for the new corona virus outbreak by GRAIN | 27 Feb 2020 Supermarket Watch Asia | Corporations The outbreak of the new coronavirus, Covid-19, has been in the headlines of media outlets across the world since it was first reported in Wuhan, China in late December 2019. There is growing evidence that the Wuhan market may not have been the source of the initial outbreak in humans. A paper published in The Lancet by a large group of Chinese researchers examined the first 41 hospitalised patients with confirmed infections from the coronavirus and found that the earliest case "became ill on 1 December 2019 and had no reported link to the seafood market," In total, 13 of the 41 initial cases they examined had no link to the marketplace. The outbreak of the new coronavirus, Covid-19, has been in the headlines of media outlets across the world since it was first reported in Wuhan, China in late December 2019. There is growing evidence that the Wuhan market may not have been the source of the initial outbreak in humans. A paper published in The Lancet by a large group of Chinese researchers examined the first 41 hospitalised patients with confirmed infections from the coronavirus and found that the earliest case "became ill on 1 December 2019 and had no reported link to the seafood market," In total, 13 of the 41 initial cases they examined had no link to the marketplace.
Black Diwali: E-commerce eats away at the livelihoods of small retailers by GRAIN | 26 Nov 2019 Supermarket Watch Asia | Corporations A new issue of Supermarket watch Asia bulletin, with articles on E-commerce, Palestine seed networking, campaign against Auchan in Senegal, and Walmart in Chile. A new issue of Supermarket watch Asia bulletin, with articles on E-commerce, Palestine seed networking, campaign against Auchan in Senegal, and Walmart in Chile.