A guide to healthy food markets
With over half of the world's population now living in urban areas, food markets have become important sources of affordable food for many millions of people. At the same time, however, such markets have been associated with major outbreaks of diseases, including cholera, SARS and avian influenza. Food markets vary greatly from country to country and even from province to province, depending on the local culture, socioeconomic conditions, food varieties and dietary preferences. However, all food markets should have one major thing in common ? they should provide the community with safe and nutritious food. This essential function is at the centre of the World Health Organizations Healthy Food Markets initiative. Given the differences among markets, the implementation of Healthy Food Markets pilot projects will also differ greatly in various regions of the world. Therefore, this guide is intended as a basic orientation and reference point for developing a Healthy Food Market pilot project. While the principles in this guide do indeed apply to all markets, some markets may require flexibility for achieving their goals. Successful Healthy Food Market pilot projects are ones where the community comes together to work for a common vision of a safe and healthy market. Regardless of whether specific improvements can be achieved in one month, one year or ten years, working towards their vision of a Healthy Food Market will ultimately mean better health and nutritional status for everyone in the community. This guide is meant as a tool to help foster the Healthy Food Market vision among those who have truly come to understand that we are what we eat. . .
