Current events

We met with the Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council Edvards Smiltēns to discuss issues regarding the need for reforms in the Riga Central Market

Last Friday, representatives of the Farmers' Assembly, Juris Lazdins, Martins Trons, Edite Strazdins and Maira Dzelzkaleja-Burmistre met with the Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council Edvardas Smiltena to discuss issues related to promoting the sales market of local agricultural products at the Riga Central Market. The representatives of the Farmers' Assembly acknowledged that the management of the Riga Central Market is currently being changed, and they are also considering how to reform the market. For our part, we surveyed our members and suggested several solutions on how to "reanimate" the Riga Central Market and how to make it more interesting for both sellers and buyers.

 

ZSA recommendations that we expressed during the meeting:

  • It is necessary to understand whether a particular market has a setup from its owner or RD in the money or whether it still needs to be able to sustain itself?
  • It must be understood that the market must be able to change with the times and, from a simple place for trading, it must become more of a place that is also interesting for tourists and local residents of Riga, who want not only to shop in the mornings, but also to enjoy the food and culture that they have in other countries of the world.
  • Amendments to the regulations need to be made sooner to provide greater control opportunities for the Latvian Food Safety Authority regarding the origin of local fruits and vegetables.
  • The night shelter needs to be moved to another location in Riga, as a large portion of its residents congregate at Riga Central Market during the day.
  • The Night or Farmers' Market needs to be organized, where the best sales areas should be allocated to local farmers, and more efforts should be made to reduce the shadow economy in the market area.
  • Free parking spaces for at least 1 hour should be provided around the market, thus attracting people who commute by car every day.
  • The Riga City Council must work on creating a positive image of the Riga Central Market, because basically only negative information about this market is heard in the media.
  • Catering services need to be developed in the market area.
  • It is necessary to attract other municipalities and offer them the opportunity to create their own thematic regional stands, where not only agricultural products, but also home-grown and artisanal products could be sold, thus also supporting small producers in all regions of Latvia.
  • Market opening hours should be extended, at least on weekends and holidays.
  • Opportunities for traders to store their products within the market area need to be developed.
  • We need to evolve with the times and give farmers the opportunity to also remotely conclude e-contracts for trade within the market area.
  • Municipal and private markets in other districts of Riga (Vidzeme Market, Čiekurkalns Market, etc.) should also be developed.

 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please write or call Mārtiņš (martins.trons@zemniekusaeima.lv  mobile 29805456)