Laiki agora

Part of the motivation was to help local agricultural producers sell their fresh produce to the local population in nearby towns without the need of middlepersons, thus cutting down prices, and from this perspective the introduction of people's markets in Greece can be considered as an application of the commercial practice of disintermediation (or "cutting out the middleperson").

There are two kind of sellers in Greek people's markets: the "producers" (paragogoi, παραγωγοί) and the "professionals" (epaggelmaties, επαγγελματίες).

All sellers must receive a special permit by the government in order to be able to sell produce in a people's market.

"Professionals" are barred from undertaking any other profession, trade, or commercial activity after they are granted a permit to sell products in a people's market.

The Products sold in people's markets are typically those comprising a Mediterranean diet, known for its healthy qualities, and are key ingredients in the cuisine of Greece.

They are mainly local food, known as ntopia (ντόπια) in Greek, such as fresh fruits (including, depending on the season, oranges, apples, watermelons, melons, strawberries, and others), vegetables (like cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, and others), leaf vegetables (e.g. lettuce or antrakla), chicken eggs from suburban farms, and fish (for example sardines, European seabass, red mullets) recently caught from nearby seas (often caught the same day sold).

Gardening products, including flowers, ornamental plants, nutrient-rich soil, and fertiliser are also sold in laikes agores.

The local social custom is to choose the fruits or other fresh produce quickly without touching too hard, especially for sensitive vegetables such as tomatoes.

[4] After 13h30 or on 14h00 the sellers can make significant discounts where large quantities of fresh fruit or unsold fish can be sold en-masse for extremely low prices.

This, together with the varied demographics of the buyers as typically the whole town's or neighbourhood's inhabitants leave their homes concurrently to visit the same market, cause friends and acquaintances to spot each other while they make their purchases.

Buyers also engage in social contact with the sellers, which often results in friendship and stable, loyal, multi-year buyer-seller relationships.

Laikes agores are supported by the government's tax income and their management is undertaken by various organisations that have a strict geographical scope.

A market in Heraklion , Crete , famous for its tourism . Some of the fresh produce that can be identified in this photo include: tomatoes , lettuce , spinach , bananas , cherries , watermelons , melons , red and yellow apples , cucumbers , garlic , apricots , grapes , lemons , pears , beans , strange fruits , peaches
All ingredients of the world-famous Greek salad can be bought in laikes agores : tomato , cucumber , green peppers , olives , olive oil , and feta cheese . The oil and cheese may not be found in smaller people's markets, but those in major cities typically carry all ingredients.
People's markets exist in all regions of Greece, as each settlement with at least 500 people can have their own laiki agora . There are 44 separate markets in downtown Athens alone.