Smart Because It’s Local How Direct Agricultural Sales Fit into the Smart City Concept

The integration of local food systems into the smart city framework offers an opportunity to enhance sustainability, resilience, and social innovation in urban environments. This paper explores how direct agricultural sales-such as farmers’ markets, food cooperatives, and digital short supply chains-can contribute to the realization of smart city goals. Drawing on a review of the literature and spatial analysis using GIS tools, the study highlights the benefits of local food networks in strengthening urban resilience, reducing environmental impacts, and fostering civic engagement. At the same time, it identifies challenges posed by the growing dominance of large-scale retail structures, which marginalize small producers and concentrate food distribution. The findings suggest that supporting direct agricultural sales through smart technologies and policy initiatives can help cities create more sustainable, inclusive, and adaptive food systems. This research provides evidence-based recommendations for integrating local food systems into smart city strategies to promote a more resilient and community-centered urban future.