Final answer:
Marketing is the function that includes the production, promotion, distribution, and sale of goods and services with the goal of fulfilling consumer needs and desires, primarily conducted by companies in the goods market.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function that involves activities designed to provide goods and services that fulfill the needs and desires of consumers is marketing. This entails not only the promotion and advertising of products but also the research, development, distribution, and sales processes that are all aimed at reaching and satisfying the consumer.
Companies in the goods market are the entities primarily involved in these activities, working towards producing and making goods available to the consumers, which is essential for meeting people's basic material needs. Marketing ensures that the lifecycle of a product, from conception to sale, is handled in a way that maximizes the product’s value to consumers.