Reflections of the COVID-19 pandemic on food sales in farmer’s markets in Maciço de Baturité-CE

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous changes to sustainable and healthy territories, implying the need to reorganize social and health structures. The objective of this study was to understand the dynamics of open-air food markets in the post-pandemic period of COVID-19 in cities in the Maciço de Baturité, Ceará, and to evaluate the health and/or biosecurity strategies used in coping with COVID-19 by merchants and consumers. A mixed study (quantitative and qualitative) was carried out from October 2021 to January 2023 in five cities in the interior of Ceará. First, a cross-sectional investigation was carried out, observing sanitary and biosafety conditions in street markets. Then, interviews were carried out to deepen the discussions about the effects of the pandemic in these territories. Five fairs were evaluated and 44 people participated in the study. Four cities showed precarious sanitary conditions and compromised biosecurity in the commercialization of food in street markets. Knowledge about the risks presented by COVID-19 and the need for social reorganization in these places was perceived. However, the lack of investments in actions by the governance in the territories was highlighted. Free fairs are sustainable social and economic territories, but they lack attention from managers and health professionals.