TASTE: receive a basket of horticultural foods directly from the producer (with video)

If you are one of those who doubt the quality and questioned the origin of the products sold by hypermarkets or a consumer who has a preference for quality products, know that you can now purchase these products, even in urban areas, directly from the producer, without intermediaries, through the project PROVE.

Through the SAMPLE, the consumer can purchase a basket of fruits and vegetables selected and cultivated by a producer in your area, with a weekly, biweekly or monthly. The hampers are delivered in one of the sales points defined.

This project arose in the context of the Community initiative EQUAL, in conjunction with several partners who joined a group of small producers in the Setúbal Peninsula region, Vale do Sousa, Alentejo, Mafra and port, in order to boost the flow of productions.

This proximity marketing â€" since the consumer receives the basket directly from the producer â€" allows a greater rapprochement between the rural and urban communities, fostering solidarity and a trust relationship between the small local producers and consumers. When receiving the food producer without intermediaries, direct contact allows the farmer to share information on the methods and techniques of production, the products used and the care at the level of environmental protection.

In addition to being able to buy higher quality products and speak directly with the producer, the SHOW combines the convenience of online ordering, to choose the products you want to have in your basket simply access the list of fruits and vegetables which can be found on the site and mark you want to or do not wish to receive. The fruits and vegetables available vary according to season and region of the country, as well as the price, with a large basket costs around, on average, about € 10.

The choice of the delivery location can also be set online â€" simply access the order form in your area and select the desired location.

Currently, there are nuclei PROVES in almost all districts of the country, with the exception of Vila Real, Coimbra, Castelo Branco and Portalegre. An explanation for the lack of nuclei in these regions is the fact that they have large rural areas and contact between small producers and consumers be easier, as well as the family agricultural production for own consumption is larger in those areas, explained Isabel Rodrigo, Professor at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, during the Conference "Planning the Urban food system in the metropolitan area of Lisbon"held at Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

As for the mode of production of the farmers who are part of the project is mostly conventional, since organic production is not profitable and, according to the University faculty member, is "expensive obtain certification for organic production". However, consumers can attest to the quality and question the techniques and products used at producers. Currently, there are already some nuclei that produce in an integrated manner, combining biological practices to conventional, or completely organic, as is the case of one of the cores of Loures.

The TASTE is also an exit door for small productions, which helps producers to circumvent the difficulties in the sector.

Foto:  WordRidden/ Creative Commons

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