For those who live in cities, farmer's market enables them to access economic fresh food. Farmer's market not only connects farmers and consumers, but also supports retailers' livelihood.

Some cities in China have been exploring a method to introduce latest technologies into farmer's market, a traditional trading place. Shenzhen in South China’s Guangdong province, has recently approved two local standards, DB 4403/T 228-2022, Specification for construction and management of smart farmer's market, and DB 4403/T 229-2022, Specification for construction of smart farmer's market management system.

When you buy groceries in markets, what do you worry about? Most people's concerns are getting short measure and shoddy goods. Therefore, the local standard defines a structure consisting of consumers, merchants, supervision departments and various devices. These elements are integrated by latest technologies, including big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the internet of things (IoT).

Database, the core of the structure, enables consumers to trace producers and check each circulation link of food, which guarantees safer purchase. Meanwhile, supervision departments can explicitly monitor the process to reduce potential risks. Shenzhen's standards also develop a registration system for electronic balances to avoid short measure.

These standards are designed to deal with trust issues between retailers and customers and to cater to citizens' demand of "more abundant, safer and better" agricultural products. With more specified standards, Shenzhen will further enhance the efficiency of market management, upgrade governmental supervision and integrate the construction of smart city.