In Common or Enclosed: A Comparison of Farmers’ Market Development in Poland and the United States

Abstract

How do alternative food networks (AFNs) cohere as a recognizable, global initiative against the dominant industrial food system (IFS), even in differing locations and social contexts? And how can their most visible venues, farmers’ markets, through commoning practices foster the development of a food commons in different contexts? Here, we compare farmers’ markets in Poland and the United States using central/peripheral empirical research to uncover their efficacy in practicing and sustaining a dynamic food commons. We track similarities that suggest potential for building a networked movement and identify challenges that can lead to re-enclosure of the food system.