Urban Cooperative for the Solidarity Economy The Agricultural Grocery of Kalamaria

Initiator/Founder/Owner:

The Initiator / founder is the Urban Cooperative for the Solidarity Economy The Agricultural Grocery of Kalamaria

Contact Person:

Terzopoulou Aimilia – Board Member

Funding: 

Private funds of the Cooperative’s members

Background:

The Agricultural Grocery of Kalamaria is an initiative of the Municipal Citizens Movement, a municipal party faction.  It is part of the social solidarity and support actions implemented by the Municipal movement, according to statutotry principles and operating regulations. Anyone can become a member of the Agricultural Grocerry as long as he submits an application stating his compliance with the rules and regulations of the Cooperative.

Although it started its operations in 2012, the Cooperative was registered at the General Register of Institutions and Solidarity Economy in 2017.

The aims of the Agricultural Grecery are, among other:

• Creating a solidarity and mutual support network of local farmers – producers and consumers
• Meeting consumers’ needs with local, high quality products and afordable prices
• Supporting the Greek agricultural production, the environmentally friendly methods of cultivation and fair prices for producers
• Supporting local businesses and production

Place / address:

Cooperative’s Offices

Karaoli & Dimitriou 47, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Greece

GPS: 40.55083, 23.02549

Main branch and regional / local points:

Flea Market 1: Nikolaou Plastira, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki – Aretsou Beach, Greece

GPS: 40.57802, 22.94330

Contact: Terzopoulou Aimilia

Flea Market 2: Spyrou Moystakli 2, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki – Nea Krini Grove, Greece

GPS: 40.57124, 22.96064

Contact: Terzopoulou Aimilia

Presentation of the center / object:

The Agricultural Grocery of Kalamaria is not a consumer movement but has multiple goals. It's a consumer - producer network. It is based and underpins the perception that the two social groups should work together, support each other, realize that their interests are common and not conflicting.

The negotiating ability of the cooperative depends on the quantities it trades and therefore on the support from its members, as well as the further increase of members that is considered really crucial for its overall development.

The field of operation of the Cooperative is local – regional, and its suppliers consist of local and regional producers who are active members of the cooperative. Customers of flea markets are the residents and consumers of the wider region. The transportation of products is carried out by the producers themselves.

Services offered by the center:

The Agricultural Grocery organizes flea markets twice a month in the area of Kalamaria in Thessaloniki. The producers that participate at the flea markets are allowed to make retail sales only during the flea market.

On a weekly basis, the cooperative creates a poster with the products to be sold in the flea markets and in consultation with the producers indicate the offers and special prices of the products. In addition, the cooperative sends the product offers to its members by e-mail every week and promotes and advertises the products in electronic and printed media.

The transport and exhibition of the products as well as their promotion/sale in the open-air markets is carried out exclusively by the producers who are encouraged to be present in order to come into direct contact with consumers and develop relationships of trust.

Periodicity:

Flea markets are organized on Sunday mornings throughout the year.

Production offered by the center:

The Cooperative offers the following product categories:

• Seasonal fruits
• Seasonal vegetables
• Cheese products
• Eggs
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Pickles
• Olive oil & byproducts & olives
• Jam and traditional sweet
• Honey and byproducts
• Herbs and Tea
• Ornamental plants and seeds

Terms of Access:

• To sell

Farmers / producers who wish to participate in the flea markets should meet the following criteria:

• Their products should not be already sold in the flea market by more than 2 producers – members of the Cooperative.
• Should be legally producing and acquire all relevant legal documents
• Should be approved by an on-site investigation by the Cooperative that will check production methods and working conditions
• Should go through a trial participation in two flea markets in order to check the way the farmer interacts with the customers
• Should become a member of the Cooperative by submitting an application and paying the relevant fee (€ 20,00)
• Should pay a participation fee for every flea market. The amount of the fee concerns the services offered by the Cooperative and depends on the type of legal entity and the size of the producer.
• The producers must guarantee the stability of product quality and should be consistent to the days and time of delivery.
• To buy
• Buyers of products offered at flea markets are mainly local consumers, and there are no special criteria for their access. They are characterized by their sensitivity to the environment and the production methods used for the products they consume as well as their sensitivity towards the producer himself who produces their food.