Following the slow food philosophy, which aims to counter the fast-food tradition, earth markets are community-run markets that bring naturally grown organic food to consumers at fair prices. They do not appear different from other local markets; however, they have to adapt to the Slow Food philosophy. With a special focus on small-scale farmers and artisan producers, Earth Markets accept products produced with environmentally friendly methods. There are also some restrictions on the amount of products at the market to avoid unfair competition and they also promote environmental sustainability through special designs like bags made of natural materials rather than nylon. The next important priority is that farmers sell their products with accessible prices and without any middlemen which enriches the interaction between producers and customers. In 2005, the first Earth Market was established in Montevarchi, Italy, and the project spread across Europe in a short period of time. According to Slow Food, there are more than 41 Earth Markets in 12 countries including Austria, India, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, the U.S. and Mexico.
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