The article is devoted to the economic and sociological analysis of the phenomenon of dachas from the perspective of the concept of reciprocity in order to identify the potential of dachas in the food supply of the population. The research was carried out using an interdisciplinary approach combining economic and sociological methods for a more complete solution of the tasks. Empirical analysis has allowed to establish that the dacha, as a traditional social institution for Russia, a place for suburban recreation of citizens, gardening and an element of suburbanization, plays a significant role in the food supply of households. The dominant form of exchange of food grown in dachas is the exchange of gifts, carried out through horizontal networks based on mutual relations. The results of the sociological research confirm that more than half of the respondents share their grown products with relatives and friends free of charge. Taking into account the low level of consumption of vegetables and fruits by the population, the continuing insufficient level of food independence, the contribution of the production of these products in suburban areas to the filling of the food market is estimated as high. This means the possibility of ensuring food sovereignty «from below», through wider participation of small producers in filling the food market. Therefore, an urgent task is to improve state support measures for the dacha institute as one of the social stabilizers of society.