Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality
Over the past century, the global food system has largely shifted from a localized, decentralized agricultural model to more centralized, industrial food production system. Corresponding with this shift was a change in consumer preferences, an expectation for “perfect” fruits and vegetables that has...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Geographical Society of Finland
2018-11-01
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Series: | Fennia: International Journal of Geography |
Online Access: | https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/65645 |
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author | Caitlin Finlayson |
author_facet | Caitlin Finlayson |
author_sort | Caitlin Finlayson |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Over the past century, the global food system has largely shifted from a localized, decentralized agricultural model to more centralized, industrial food production system. Corresponding with this shift was a change in consumer preferences, an expectation for “perfect” fruits and vegetables that has contributed to a significant problem with wasted food. An alternative food system, aimed at providing locally-grown, sustainable produce has countered this model and has sought to reconnect consumers and producers. At the same time, this alternative model still exists within a larger agricultural system dominated by industrial production and standardization. This paper examines how the changes in the ways consumers look at fresh produce quality has affected the practices of retailers and drives food waste at the supply chain using in-depth interviews conducted in a variety of settings in Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. An analysis of these interview findings reveals that even in alternative food buying locations, consumers have a general expectation of perfection but that as consumers build relationships with the people who grow their food, these perceptions, and our food waste practices, might be changed. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:21:58Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c3c80377755c4c5ea15d3453c7b61253 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1798-5617 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:21:58Z |
publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
publisher | Geographical Society of Finland |
record_format | Article |
series | Fennia: International Journal of Geography |
spelling | doaj.art-c3c80377755c4c5ea15d3453c7b612532022-12-22T03:17:59ZengGeographical Society of FinlandFennia: International Journal of Geography1798-56172018-11-01196210.11143/fennia.65645Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce qualityCaitlin Finlayson0University of Mary WashingtonOver the past century, the global food system has largely shifted from a localized, decentralized agricultural model to more centralized, industrial food production system. Corresponding with this shift was a change in consumer preferences, an expectation for “perfect” fruits and vegetables that has contributed to a significant problem with wasted food. An alternative food system, aimed at providing locally-grown, sustainable produce has countered this model and has sought to reconnect consumers and producers. At the same time, this alternative model still exists within a larger agricultural system dominated by industrial production and standardization. This paper examines how the changes in the ways consumers look at fresh produce quality has affected the practices of retailers and drives food waste at the supply chain using in-depth interviews conducted in a variety of settings in Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. An analysis of these interview findings reveals that even in alternative food buying locations, consumers have a general expectation of perfection but that as consumers build relationships with the people who grow their food, these perceptions, and our food waste practices, might be changed.https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/65645 |
spellingShingle | Caitlin Finlayson Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality Fennia: International Journal of Geography |
title | Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality |
title_full | Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality |
title_fullStr | Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality |
title_full_unstemmed | Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality |
title_short | Perfect food: perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality |
title_sort | perfect food perspectives on consumer perceptions of fresh produce quality |
url | https://fennia.journal.fi/article/view/65645 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT caitlinfinlayson perfectfoodperspectivesonconsumerperceptionsoffreshproducequality |