Public Markets
Flavors and gastronomic experience at Kecskemét Green Market
The Kecskemét Pilot Action stands on two pillars: supporting and prioritizing producers, and providing environmental education to children. Kecskemét Green Market has always played an important role in the everyday life of the city. Almost 300 producers are present at the market throughout the year, and many additional farmers come to the market with seasonal products. Most of the producers have been present there for 25-30 years. They arrive from Kecskemét and a 40-km zone around the city. Kecskemét Green Market has always put great emphasis on supporting producers, so the fee that producers have to pay for their stalls is less than the fee that traders must may. Producers are presented on the webpage of Kecskemét Green Market: https://www.kecskemetipiac.hu/termeloink/
As for the implementation of the project, an Earth Market with regular tastings will be set up at the Green Market. To start, one session per month will be be organized in which, besides the sale of local products, there will be tastings and demonstrations (e.g. baking bread with locally milled flour in a wood-fired oven, or presenting live bees). Groups of children will be invited to each program and will have the opportunity to enjoy these interesting programs at the market.
Several information boards will be placed all over the market that will call visitors’ attention to the importance of environmentally friendly practices (e.g. composting, collecting rainwater, setting up kitchen gardens, or protecting bees).
In order to raise awareness, the market will use environmentally friendly packaging and differentiated waste collection. Producers will have the opportunity to take part in training workshops. During the year various programs will be presented in the city and on a national level, and traditional food and dishes will be promoted through cooking and tastings. Local restaurants will also be involved.
Groups of children have always been invited to Kecskemét Green Market, and we would like to welcome them there in the future, too. By participating in guided tours at the market, they can become familiar with the importance of living an environmentally friendly life and learn that vegetables and fruits are delicious and fun. By involving schools and kindergartens, our aim is to ensure the environmental education of youth and teach them how to live a conscious life through tastings, games, and promotional materials.