VIRTUAL: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

The farmers’ market is a quintessential traditional public space of the city that has shown remarkable resilience over time. It is a vital institution that has played a pivotal role in shaping and driving urban development. Positioned at the heart of the city, it is an intrinsic part of the city’s identity, serving as a public space for daily interactions, exchanges, and encounters. From a historical perspective, the farmers’ market has always been a public urban space that has evolved, adapted, and gained new meanings in response to the changing needs of the city. In the postmodern era of sustainable urban development, the farmers’ market is recognized as a critical site for urban growth and development with immense potential for reinterpreting the farmers’ market as a crucial element of the urban landscape. This paper is based on research that explores the significance of the interplay between tradition and innovation, old and new, as it illuminates the intricate interconnections between the social and spatial dimensions of the city. Furthermore, this connection to tradition in the urban context is closely linked with the concept of community identity, which is predicated upon a specific attachment to place. The research was conducted in Croatian cities using a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both surveys and diary studies to gather data on participants’ attitudes and perceptions towards the farmers’ market. The goal of the research is to better understand the meanings and roles that participants ascribe to the farmers’ market, and to identify its potential as a vital community asset.