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This paper analyzes the social construction of agri-food markets stimulated by food purchasing public policies and by the territorial actions of family farmers and public players located on the north coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The research is based on fieldwork carried out between 2013 and 2016, and more specifically on semi-structured interviews conducted with farmers, agricultural extension workers, and social mediators, along with a participant observation of the operating system of two farming cooperatives. The results show the existence of an innovative social network, playing an important role in the socio-economic reproduction of family farmers and the strengthening of social bonds. However, certain limitations must be highlighted, including the low participation of the poorest family farmers in this process.