This research focuses on understanding the characteristics of migrant takeaway riders and migrant vendors in wet markets, how they operate their businesses, and their role in Nanjing’s urban food system. It aims to investigate the following questions:
Firstly, we intend to analyze the characteristics of these migrant workers in the two sectors, employing a comparative perspective to understand whether there is any difference in working time, food-buying sources, and incomeMoreover, we also intend to expand our survey coverage from urban area to both urban area and market towns, assess the status of migrant food vendors both in urban wet market and country markets of market towns.
Second, how the migrants’ food vending business contributes to urban food security from the aspects including boosting time access and physical access to food, food diversity and increasing food affordability.
Thirdly, we also intend to examine the impact of migration on ensuring migrants’ own food security. That is to say, we will collect data on individual food consumption and assess the status of food security of food vendors and takeaway riders and their coping strategies to deal with food insecurity.
Fourth, whether and how migrant food vendors of wet markets are affected by online food purchase. We will collect that information of pick-up sites of online-offline food selling around wet markets to be surveyed.
Last, how gender shapes the business practices of wet market vendors and delivery drivers, and how male and female vendors cooperate in operating food retailing vending business.