CoMercado

Ana Maria Huaita Alfaro

PhD in Development Planning, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College London 

MPhil in Environment, Society and Development, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge 

CoMercado is inspired in my experiences as researcher and food explorer, expanded since the start of my studies abroad, a decade ago. Most importantly, my PhD project focused on urban markets and encounters around food led me to unique experiences of encounter with these realms. These now inspire my work and these pages.

While researching markets in Lima, I faced tensions in the way these operated and served residents. Urban markets are lively places, a delight for the senses when finding yourself around local products. Nonetheless, these are also places of contrasting economic interests, social differences and varied tastes meeting there as well, and which end up shaping the particular forms, movements and relations of the physical and social space.

Subsequent journeys to other cities and markets in Peru and abroad, allowed me to deepen in the local and global dynamics of these common spaces and the role of food in the negotiations and moments of togetherness we can share.

From these perspectives I propose a food and community agenda to address urban markets. Beyond research, these spaces need a think-do approach to really embrace their complexity and rich possibilities for our cities. This is my engagement while developing and facilitating projects linked to this agenda, which I hope you will feel invited to join too!