Race, privilege and the exclusivity of farm internships: Ecological agricultural education and the implications for food movements

Abstract

Internships have become a prominent way of training new ecological farmers across North America. This paper interrogates the social identities of these interns asking: Who is being trained as the next generation of ecological farmers and what are the implications for food movements more broadly? Our research reveals a series of privileges associated with the ability to work for little or no remuneration and to access rural spaces where most internships are located. We argue that, while providing valuable knowledge and skills, the dominant model of ecological farm internships privileges white, middle-class young people and creates barriers to entry for racialized people, thereby limiting access to the subsequent education, training and other privileges awarded as part of the experience. In addition, this model hinders opportunities for building a more diverse ecological farming sector by reproducing a particular kind of farmer, limiting the impact of food movements.