Networks, Islands, and Deserts of Self-Organised Food Supply

Abstract

Prispevek obravnava pomen samoorganiziranih omrežij lokalne prehranske oskrbe v Mariboru kot ključnega dejavnika za preprečevanje prehranskih puščav. Njihove prakse predstavljajo »otočja« oziroma omrežja solidarnostnih ekonomij, ki odpirajo prostor distribuciji lokalno pridelane hrane. Z neposrednim stikom z odjemalci_kami se pridelovalci_ke izognejo nestabilnosti in so manj izpostavljeni vplivom velikih trgovinskih verig, kar delno rešuje tudi problematiko z viški pridelkov. Takšna omrežja so na prvi pogled izolirana in vase zaprta ter oddaljena od splošne distribucije hrane, vendar krepijo ruralno-urbano partnerstvo.The article discusses the importance of self-organised networks for local food supply in Maribor as a key factor in preventing food deserts. Their practices represent “islands” or networks of solidarity economies that create space for the distribution of locally produced food. By having direct contact with consumers, producers avoid instability and are less exposed to the influence of large commercial chains, which also partially addresses the issue of surplus production. Such networks may initially seem closed off, distant and isolated from mainstream food distribution, but in fact they strengthen rural-urban partnerships