Traditional public markets: Inclusive hubs for a just food system

Traditional public markets in the UK, selling food and household items, and mainly owned and managed by municipal authorities, can support public policies for a socio-ecological just food transition if they are linked to public health, food and environmental policies. However, there is a lack of research and policy focusing on this area particularly on how to avoid a potential “green” gentrification process. The paper focuses on a policy-led research project in collaboration with Bradford City council to develop a Sustainable and Healthy charter for a new public market in the city centre. The research involved meetings with the public health and market management teams of the council, four interviews with stakeholders, a survey of 21 traders and a community engagement event at a market where we spoke to 50 market users as well as data from 2 public consultation surveys. The research highlighted the role traditional markets are currently playing in the just food system transition. It also reveals the challenges and risks for local public authorities in the UK to pursue these policies in a context of austerity and competing priorities on urban regeneration and income generation.