Segurança alimentar nos tempos da Covid-19: o caso das feiras orgânicas de Pato Branco entre 2020 e 2022

Abstract

In the years 2020 and 2021, Brazil began a financial crisis, aggravated by the health crisis caused by the arrival of Covid-19, therefore, this research seeks to discuss the role of organic fairs in food security during the period most impacted by the pandemic and unexpectedly to supermarkets, through price analysis. The consumer experiences a parameter that organic foods have higher prices than conventional ones, but asks: Is the diversity of offer and prices of organic products at fairs competitive with organic products from supermarkets? What about conventional ones? Therefore, as a result of research, it is concluded that the prices of organic foods in supermarkets remain at a level that is at least double the price charged for organic products at fairs. A second conclusion is that fairs manage to offer a greater diversity of organic food compared to supermarkets, that is, fairs have a more diverse offer of organic food than supermarkets, in addition to being local and fresh. A third and important conclusion is that among the five main products traded at the fairs, four of them (lemon, broccoli, carrots and tomatoes) had a price adjustment below inflation during the years 2021 and 2022 and became cheaper at the fairs that the conventional supermarket. However, there is an exception for bananas, which due to a local microclimatic issue, organic bananas at fairs were readjusted and remained at a lower price level than the conventional supermarket competitor. Thus, in general, this research allows a dialogue with the theme of food security, with the issue of the global syndemic and public policies and which allows concluding on the role of organic fairs in supply and food security in the times of COVID-19.