The Social Impact of SAGE Farmers' Market

In 2015 researchers from the University of Canberra designed and carried out a study to examine the social impact of the SAGE Farmers Market on the Moruya community and the Eurobodalla Shire. The research engaged shoppers, producers and market organisers to explore the role of the market in the community and, specifically, in the lives of shoppers and producers. The study was designed to identify the key characteristics of those who shop at the market, what their motivations are and the key outcomes and impacts of their shopping experiences. The research also focused on the role the market plays in the lives and livelihoods of producers and market organisers. To do this, the data collection focused on key issues including social connections, the lived experience of rural livelihoods and attitudes to local food production.