ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations), agricultural cooperatives’ (JAs’) national business organization, headquartered at Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, launched a business of assisting condominium residents in opening a small-sized farmer’s market named “marché” in their common area of the large-sized condominium building.
A marché opened at one of the largest condominium buildings in the Tokyo metropolitan area is expected to be useful for the residents to promote communication among themselves as well as to easily access fresh foods. (© ZEN-NOH)
The opening of marchés at condos in big cities’ residential resion is expected not only to be useful for the residents to create a network of communication among themselves, but also helpful for aged residents to access their own “marché” within their residential area.
Aged people called “disadvantaged shoppers” are increasing among condo residents as well, who have difficulties in accessing grocery stores located at distant places.
ZEN-NOH now helps 40 condos in the Tokyo metropolitan area to hold a marché at their respective common place almost once a year. It plans to increase the frequency of opening small farmer’s markets in the condominium, up to once or a couple of times per month throughout the year.
The marché at a condo was a proposal made by ZEN-NOH to a construction company of condominiums with a view to connecting consumers in the condo and agricultural producers.
Varieties of grocery foods handled by a marché depend upon the condo. Most of the marchés sell ten to twenty food items including fresh vegetables, fruits and rice.