A Place-based Perspective of Food in Society

This book provides an outstanding collection of interdisciplinary and international essays examining the food-place relationship. It explores such topics as the history of food and agriculture, the globalization and localization of food, and the role of place in defining not only the how, why, when, and with whom we eat, but the broader societal consequences of this ever-changing phenomena. With the interdisciplinary nature of this volume comes a multitude of perspectives on what those broader social consequences are, how they came to be, and what ought to be done to solve those issues we find most pressing, such as the global food crisis. While the specific angle each author takes on these issues may differ in some instances, each of them share an acute recognition of the interplay between food and place, and how that relationship becomes crucial for comprehending the problems we face and, in turn, what the proper solutions may be.

Kevin M. Fitzpatrick is Professor of Sociology and Jones Chair in Community at the University of Arkansas, USA. His work continues to focus on the role of place and its social structural consequences for health, food security, and the overall well-being, particularly among low-income, homeless, and at-risk children and youth.

Don Willis holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Arkansas, USA and is currently pursuing Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Missouri. Broadly, Don's research examines the role of social factors in the shaping of health-related phenomena with a primary focus on social capital and food security.