Contribution short abstract:

Using as a case study one Community Supported Agriculture from Romania I am looking at how small producers, who are otherwise excluded from obtaining the premium prices of organic food markets, can still seize community economic rent through the close relationship created with their consumers.

Contribution long abstract:

The rising concerns regarding food safety, and the growing awareness of the environmental impact on biodiversity through the use of harmful chemicals by intensive agriculture as well as the negative social impact for local communities, has resulted in an increasing demand for products grown through more environmental and ethical practices. Thus, the quality turn (Goodman, 2003) resulted in the rising popularity of organic certificated products. Yet, it can be argued that organic labels do not manage to challenge the unjust practices but merely create another niche in the market to be co-opted and exploited by corporations, without delivering significant changes to the food system.

Using as a case study one Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) from Romania I am looking at how small producers, who are otherwise excluded from accessing the premium prices of organic food markets, can still seize community economic rent (Galt, 2013) through the close relationship created with their consumers as part of a CSA. Using a qualitative research methodology, based on semi-structured interviews and secondary data analysis my research addresses the discursive constructions regarding food, which is perceived as good based on the virtue of trust, build through the close relationship between consumers and producers. The constructed imaginaries of food revolve around the place of origin (authenticity) or on the way it is produced (naturalness).