Learning, communicating and eating in local food-systems: the case of organic box schemes in Denmark and Norway

Abstract

The present study explores whether organic box schemes can improve learning, communication and food consumption in a sustainable direction. Customers' conceptions and practices in three box schemes operating in Norway and Denmark in 2001 were studied. The study was conducted as a survey including all subscribers in the three box schemes. Three indicators of sustainability were chosen to assess the contribution of local box schemes to sustainable food provisioning. These indicators were: awareness of food-system issues, improved communication and social relations in the box schemes, and changes in food consumption practice. The studied box schemes held the potential of enhancing all the sustainability indicators that were explored in this study. The study indicates that when box schemes are multi-functional, when they focus not only on food distribution but also on providing an arena for learning and actual changes in food practices, they have potential to support the development of more sustainable, local and organic food-systems.