SHORT DESCRIPTION: AMAP - the Association for the Maintenance of Peasant Farming (Association pour le maintien d’une agriculture paysanne)- was established in France in 2001. Since then, the number of AMAPs is growing exponentially, and AMAPs are now present in almost all the regions of France. In 2012, there were over 1600 AMAPs in France which have created a network. They represent more than 50,000 families and nearly 200,000 consumers. One AMAP usually has between 20 and 80 families, the size varies per initiative (localisation, variety of products). Often crated around a vegetable producer, it can bring meat, fruits, dairy products, eggs, bread, honey producers.
KEY ACTIVITIES: Producers involved in AMAPs are often small producers, in peri-urban areas. Usually AMAPs don’t represent the 100% of their business. They have other marketing channels like markets, picking at farm, stores and sometimes supermarkets. They are mostly organic but not necessarily. Depending on the size, vegetables can come from one or more producers. Seasonal vegetables are collected in a single place of distribution. The basket is defined by the producer and association members. Members come once a week to pick up the products they contract for (vegetables, eggs, bread). Proximity between consumers and producers is essential because the concept is based on social link and mutual help.
RELEVANT DIMENSION: Quality of produce, multi products&services, community based, low-tech
BUSINESS MODELS: Shared economy (social inclusion, participation)
