Plastic waste in the food system: corporations continue to binge on single-use plastic while local shops and hawkers find alternatives by GRAIN | 27 Feb 2024 Supermarket Watch Asia In this edition we see how in India and China, local markets and street food vendors in Asia that operate outside the corporate system are already finding creative ways to reduce their plastic waste and develop solutions that support people's livelihoods and food needs. In this edition we see how in India and China, local markets and street food vendors in Asia that operate outside the corporate system are already finding creative ways to reduce their plastic waste and develop solutions that support people's livelihoods and food needs.
Challenging e-commerce monopolisation in food distribution by GRAIN | 29 Nov 2023 Supermarket Watch Asia E-commerce continues to expand rapidly into food distribution and retail across Asia, speeding up corporate control. These digital platforms increase the pricing power corporations have over farmers and enable them to bring workers in the food system under the control of invisible command centers. E-commerce continues to expand rapidly into food distribution and retail across Asia, speeding up corporate control. These digital platforms increase the pricing power corporations have over farmers and enable them to bring workers in the food system under the control of invisible command centers.
Social protection for market traders and street vendors in an era of pension fund capitalism by GRAIN | 31 Aug 2023 Supermarket Watch Asia Following the work of many others who have been organising and working with market traders and street vendors, two important issues come to the forefront: one is the fight against harassments and evictions of small food traders; the other is the fight for social protection such as access to health services and income security. Following the work of many others who have been organising and working with market traders and street vendors, two important issues come to the forefront: one is the fight against harassments and evictions of small food traders; the other is the fight for social protection such as access to health services and income security.
Beyond the ‘informal economy’ of food distribution by GRAIN | 29 May 2023 Supermarket Watch Asia Some have adopted terms like “solidarity economy” or “people’s sector” to more accurately convey the important role that the workers of the so-called "informal sector" play in the local economy and their key contribution in providing food to everyone. In this edition of the bulletin, we share stories of resilient Palestinian women farmers producing food boxes and of farmers in Laos using strategies to market their products in the face of a fuel price spike. Some have adopted terms like “solidarity economy” or “people’s sector” to more accurately convey the important role that the workers of the so-called "informal sector" play in the local economy and their key contribution in providing food to everyone. In this edition of the bulletin, we share stories of resilient Palestinian women farmers producing food boxes and of farmers in Laos using strategies to market their products in the face of a fuel price spike.
The need for regulations that protect street vendors from extortion, harassment and evictions by GRAIN | 2 Mar 2023 Supermarket Watch Asia Street vendors are not just a common sight in Asian cities, they are essential to the local economy and food systems. Failure to support street vendors would not only harm their livelihoods but also negatively impact the economy as a whole. Street vendors are not just a common sight in Asian cities, they are essential to the local economy and food systems. Failure to support street vendors would not only harm their livelihoods but also negatively impact the economy as a whole.
One-fifth of total food system emissions comes from global food miles by GRAIN | 7 Dec 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia In this edition of Supermarket Asia Bulletin: One-fifth of total food system emissions comes from global food miles; Is the ‘solidarity economy’ an alternative for China’s urban food supply?; Make Amazon Pay coalition kicks off a new wave of Black Friday strikes and protests; Can Japan feed itself?...And more! In this edition of Supermarket Asia Bulletin: One-fifth of total food system emissions comes from global food miles; Is the ‘solidarity economy’ an alternative for China’s urban food supply?; Make Amazon Pay coalition kicks off a new wave of Black Friday strikes and protests; Can Japan feed itself?...And more!
The urgency to localise food supplies by GRAIN | 31 Aug 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia The localising of food systems offers an important way out of the current corporate domination. World Localisation Day aims to scale back food and economic structures to the level of communities–allowing regions and locales to maintain a steady supply of food for themselves while neoliberal economic forces are kept out. The localising of food systems offers an important way out of the current corporate domination. World Localisation Day aims to scale back food and economic structures to the level of communities–allowing regions and locales to maintain a steady supply of food for themselves while neoliberal economic forces are kept out.
Heat waves and heavier rains: How the climate crisis affects fresh market traders and street vendors by GRAIN | 27 May 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia Record high heatwaves and heavier rains across Asia and other parts of the world in the first few months of this year have led to much harsher conditions for street vendors and fresh market traders. The extreme weather has made it almost impossible to work and has spoiled fresh produce, making it useless for selling. The situation has been disastrous for the incomes of these vendors. Record high heatwaves and heavier rains across Asia and other parts of the world in the first few months of this year have led to much harsher conditions for street vendors and fresh market traders. The extreme weather has made it almost impossible to work and has spoiled fresh produce, making it useless for selling. The situation has been disastrous for the incomes of these vendors.
Defending People's milk: same plight, same fight for peasants and fresh milk vendors by GRAIN | 7 Mar 2022 Supermarket Watch Asia "People's milk", as most call the milk produced from these local networks, involves hundreds of millions of people, from small-scale farmers and pastoralists to local dairy processors and fresh milk vendors. More than 8 million rural families are engaged in dairy production in Pakistan, and, in India, the People's milk sector accounts for 85 per cent of the national milk market. "People's milk", as most call the milk produced from these local networks, involves hundreds of millions of people, from small-scale farmers and pastoralists to local dairy processors and fresh milk vendors. More than 8 million rural families are engaged in dairy production in Pakistan, and, in India, the People's milk sector accounts for 85 per cent of the national milk market.
Ending violence against women street vendors and market traders by GRAIN | 10 Dec 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia On November 25, the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For this occasion, we want to highlight the vulnerability that women street vendors and market traders endure, both physically and economically, and resound the call to end violence against them. On November 25, the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For this occasion, we want to highlight the vulnerability that women street vendors and market traders endure, both physically and economically, and resound the call to end violence against them.
Organising informal traders and local markets by GRAIN | 8 Oct 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia In this bulletin: we talk with a community organiser who has worked for more than a decade with fresh market traders and street vendors; and share how supermarkets became the pandemic’s winners while women workers the losers. In this bulletin: we talk with a community organiser who has worked for more than a decade with fresh market traders and street vendors; and share how supermarkets became the pandemic’s winners while women workers the losers.
One year into the Covid-19 pandemic: the continuous fight & resilience of People’s markets by GRAIN | 23 Jun 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia This edition of Supermarket Watch Asia features summaries of the virtual discussion among fresh market traders, street vendors and organisers from India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines about the current socioeconomic situation and on how to move forward in the context of the ongoing global pandemic. This edition of Supermarket Watch Asia features summaries of the virtual discussion among fresh market traders, street vendors and organisers from India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines about the current socioeconomic situation and on how to move forward in the context of the ongoing global pandemic.
What kind of "markets" are we fighting for? by GRAIN | 24 Feb 2021 Supermarket Watch Asia Calls to “cut out middlemen” or “connect farmers directly to consumers” often come up in discussions about how to build local food systems or support small farmers. But such notions can be misleading for food sovereignty struggles. Small farmers and peasants represent only one node within the complex food web. Calls to “cut out middlemen” or “connect farmers directly to consumers” often come up in discussions about how to build local food systems or support small farmers. But such notions can be misleading for food sovereignty struggles. Small farmers and peasants represent only one node within the complex food web.
International Street Vendors’ Day and the need for collective struggle by GRAIN | 30 Nov 2020 Supermarket Watch Asia It’s the 20th edition of our quarterly Supermarket Asia bulletin. It’s good timing as we celebrate International Street Vendor’s Day on 14th of November - a day calling for the recognition of the contribution street vendors make to our food systems and our lives, and to raise awareness about the significant challenges they face. It’s the 20th edition of our quarterly Supermarket Asia bulletin. It’s good timing as we celebrate International Street Vendor’s Day on 14th of November - a day calling for the recognition of the contribution street vendors make to our food systems and our lives, and to raise awareness about the significant challenges they face.
Between free trade and local markets: Thailand's attempt to enter CPTPP negotiations meets opposition again by GRAIN | 28 Aug 2020 Supermarket Watch Asia In this time of Covid-19, free trade negotiations have not subsided, and are even increasing. In Thailand the government is trying again to join the Trans-Pacific trade agreement, CPTPP. But opposition continues, with increasing demand for fresh, small-scale farm produce and a diversified food system based on local markets. This edition of the Supermarket watch bulletin also includes articles that highlight long term economic impacts and opportunities that Covid-19 creates for street vendors. In this time of Covid-19, free trade negotiations have not subsided, and are even increasing. In Thailand the government is trying again to join the Trans-Pacific trade agreement, CPTPP. But opposition continues, with increasing demand for fresh, small-scale farm produce and a diversified food system based on local markets. This edition of the Supermarket watch bulletin also includes articles that highlight long term economic impacts and opportunities that Covid-19 creates for street vendors.