Many of us within WUWM have been watching with great interest the recent unfolding success of the UK market sector in obtaining increased collaboration and support from policy-makers. The fact that the UK government is now taking an active role in protecting traditional markets is superb news and a situation we can only hope to see replicated in many more countries throughout Europe.

That this new body brings together national government departments and important local government associations shows good political recognition of the significant economic and social benefits that markets everywhere bring to cities and communities.

Market input and guidance into important areas such as local policy, planning and licensing is long overdue, not only in the UK but also in other European cities; and regular reviews of best practice can only further support the already valuable contribution that markets make to local economies and communities. The added spin-off from this increased involvement is that markets and their traders will now be able to offer even more support of local community initiatives, enhancing the areas of tourism, community cohesion, sustainability and, of course, healthy eating.

To add more good news to the month, we also heard that DEFRA secretary of state Hilary Benn has announced a new task force aimed at helping England to grow (and eat) more fruit and vegetables. Increasing local fruit and vegetable production and consumption benefits everyone and such a task force is extremely welcome. It is excellent to hear that a National Association of British Market Authorities representative will be involved in this task force, which aims to address important issues in several areas in which markets have had an important and long-standing involvement.

One other European country currently leading the way on market sector collaboration with national/local policy-makers is Spain. This year, Spanish markets have provided an abundance of evidence of their ever-increasing role as vital participants in the building of a sustainable, safe and (all-encompassing) prosperous national food distribution chain. The wholesale markets of the cities of Murcia and Bilbao were the respective silver and bronze winners of the WUWM 2009 Wholesale Market Awards. They won due to the increased sustainability and prosperity they offer not only their customers and stakeholders, but also their cities, through excellence in management processes, as well as the application of innovative new technologies.

The link between wholesale and retail is a vital one and it is encouraging to see that both sectors are coming closer together than ever before and are actively highlighting their common agenda and values. I believe that no international association is currently better placed to demonstrate the effectiveness of that relationship than WUWM. By promoting this link, the market sector is seen as a whole, which helps generate an even better understanding of the influence of agricultural policies on the way people access food around the world - and how they can, and should, have access to the best food.