<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In the recent literature, Alternative Food Networks (AFN) are discussed as a promising approach, at the urban-rural interface, to meeting the challenges of the current agri-food system. Consumer-producer collaboration is seen as a characteristic feature in this context. What is lacking, however, are general concepts for describing the topics of consumer-producer interactions (CPI). The present study aims (1) to develop an analytical framework relying on six CPI domains and (2) to apply it to investigate CPI effects on consumers’ learning about and appreciation of agriculture. We conducted 26 guided interviews with consumers and producers of the three most frequent AFN types in Germany: community-supported agriculture (CSA), food coops, and self-harvest gardens. The results show that AFN participation enhances consumers’ learning about food (seasonality, cooking/nutrition, housekeeping aspects) and agricultural production (farmers’ perspectives, cultivation). Our results show that consumer’s learning is influenced by certain CPI domains, and each AFN type can be described by distinctive CPI domains. This led to the conclusion that specific AFN types open up specific learning channels and contents, with consumers learning from producers. AFNs at the urban-rural interface exploit knowledge of rurality.</p></abstract>

In the recent literature, Alternative Food Networks (AFN) are discussed as a promising approach, at the urban-rural interface, to meeting the challenges of the current agri-food system. Consumer-producer collaboration is seen as a characteristic feature in this context. What is lacking, however, are general concepts for describing the topics of consumer-producer interactions (CPI). The present study aims (1) to develop an analytical framework relying on six CPI domains and (2) to apply it to investigate CPI effects on consumers’ learning about and appreciation of agriculture. We conducted 26 guided interviews with consumers and producers of the three most frequent AFN types in Germany: community-supported agriculture (CSA), food coops, and self-harvest gardens. The results show that AFN participation enhances consumers’ learning about food (seasonality, cooking/nutrition, housekeeping aspects) and agricultural production (farmers’ perspectives, cultivation). Our results show that consumer’s learning is influenced by certain CPI domains, and each AFN type can be described by distinctive CPI domains. This led to the conclusion that specific AFN types open up specific learning channels and contents, with consumers learning from producers. AFNs at the urban-rural interface exploit knowledge of rurality.

Effects of consumer-producer interactions in alternative food networks on consumers’ learning about food and agriculture

Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)

Moravian Geographical Reports

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In the recent literature, Alternative Food Networks (AFN) are discussed as a promising approach, at the urban-rural interface, to meeting the challenges of the...

Effects of consumer-producer interactions in alternative food networks on consumers’ learning about food and agriculture

Published Online: Oct 27, 2017

Page range: 181 - 191

Received: Nov 11, 2016

Accepted: Jun 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2017-0016

Keywords
Analytical framework, community-supported agriculture (CSA), food coop, self-harvest garden, urban-rural, Germany

© 2017 Ina Opitz et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effects of consumer-producer interactions in alternative food networks on consumers’ learning about food and agriculture

Published Online: Oct 27, 2017

Page range: 181 - 191

Received: Nov 11, 2016

Accepted: Jun 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2017-0016

KeywordsAnalytical framework, community-supported agriculture (CSA), food coop, self-harvest garden, urban-rural, Germany

© 2017 Ina Opitz et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Analytical framework, community-supported agriculture (CSA), food coop, self-harvest garden, urban-rural, Germany