Techniques and Instruments of Value Production and Translation inCanadian Wild Food Harvesting

This research focuses on the trade of Canadian wild foods, such as morel mushrooms, wild blueberries

and fiddleheads. The major operational challenge in the sector is connecting remote, rural contexts of

production with global, urban centres of consumption. A distributor’s competitive advantage rests on

constant innovation of the informational, social and pricing techniques that motivate casual labour to

travel long distances and work long days for the harvest, and on the development of field processing

instruments that help determine, add to or preserve the value of the product. A commitment to social

and environmental justice in production and trade is also key: ethical concerns are central to wild

food’s perceived value. Conducting ethnographic research as a participating observing living and

working with the harvesters of wild mushroom and plant products, the intern will develop in-depth

knowledge about the array of techniques and instruments presently used to translate between these

varied interests and contexts.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shiho Satsuka

Student:

Partner:

Forbes Wild Foods

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

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