Para além dos mecanismos de preço: a construção social do mercado ‘espaço agroeológico das Graças’- Recife/PE.

Abstract

This work analyses the process of a social street market construction which was developed by farmers associations, NGO’S farmers in the municipalities of Abreu e Lima; which is within the metropolitan area of North Recife, Chã Grande located in the rural area, Gravatá located in the central region of Pernambuco and Bom Jardim in the interior of the state. The street market “Espaço Agroecológico das Graças”, began on 16 of October of 1997, as part of the commemoration of World Food Day. This was organized by AMA Gravatá and Sabiá which is a centre for agroecological development. These organizations supported the farmers to produce based on the principles of agroecological approaches. This aims to build agriculture with the lowest impact of man on nature, enabling a synergistic action with nature. This event obtained great responsiveness and motivated those involved in continuing and accomplishing their objectives to initiate a direct commercial channel to consumers. Based on the ideas of Karl Polanyi, that argues that economic action is always an immersed action socially rooted whilst Mark Granovetter that states that markets are animated by networks of social relations. To what extentit is possible to buildand maintain, in amodern capitalist society, a fairagroecological model based on principles notonly regarding economic valuesandpricing mechanisms, butmainly inexchangerelations which are based on solidarity andreciprocity? We verified that the street market, its performance and operation is related to the ability of farmers to obtain and to inspire confidence to negotiate, to enforce contracts, to establish and apply duties. Therefore, enabling the creation of an environment of mercantile exchange where social values highlight the intermediates of this exchange.