In this thesis, I examine the factors that influence the introduction of sustainable practice into university food services. There is a growing body of evidence documenting the ecological impact of the conventional agro-food system. Therefore, understanding how institutional practice either enables or hinders sustainable or ‘alternative’ food practice is critical because institutional food services could serve as a potential site for challenging conventional food geographies. Drawing upon a case study approach, my thesis explores the food service environment at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. Two smaller, less detailed food service cases studies (the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto) are used to compare the factors and indicators that determine how sustainability is incorporated into food services. Given the geographical variability within University institutions, I argue that university food services are a contested political space and an important site for challenging conventional food systems. They are also places to test alternative, more sustainable models. I outline some key variables that are currently preventing Queen’s University from moving toward a more sustainable food service model. Furthermore, I discuss the implications of this research for the alternative food geography literature. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2007-11-08 12:33:25.771

Orientador: Maria Rita Marques de Oliveira / Resumo: Introdução: A Lei nº 11.947 de 2009 do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar preconiza que 30% dos recursos financeiros do repasse federal devem ser destinados à compra direta de alimentos de agricultores familiares, entretanto impasses são relatados pelos gestores municipais e agricultores fazendo com que a compra não ocorra. Objetivo: Caracterizar os cenários de produção e abastecimento local com vistas ao fornecimento para alimentação escolar de um município do centro-oeste paulista. Metodologia: tratou-se de um estudo exploratório, com abordagem predominantemente qualitativa, divido em duas fases de execução: 1) levantamento de dados sobre a produção e o abastecimento de hortifrútis em minimercados e quitandas do município; 2) avalição das percepções dos gestores municipais e agricultores locais referente a chamada pública para alimentação escolar por meio de entrevista grupal, utilizando a matriz FOFA (Forças, Oportunidades, Fraquezas e Ameaças) e questionário individual com perguntas abertas. A estatística descritiva foi empregada para os dados quantitativos e a análise temática de conteúdo foi utilizada como metodologia para os dados qualitativos. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que os agricultores locais contribuem predominantemente com o abastecimento de verduras no comércio local, os comerciantes relataram dificuldades com diversificação e frequência na produção local. A pesquisa abrangeu 67% dos agricultores que comercializam seus produtos na feira, com os q... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Law No. 11.947 of 2009 of the National School Feeding Program states that 30% of the federal transfer funds should be destined to the direct purchase of food from family farmers, however impasses are reported by municipal managers and farmers causing the purchase does not occur. Objective: To characterize the scenarios of production and local supply with a view to supplying school meals in a municipality in the midwest of São Paulo. Methodology: This was an exploratory study, with a predominantly qualitative approach, divided into two phases of execution: 1) data collection on the production and supply of produce in mini markets and greengrocers of the municipality; 2) evaluation of the perceptions of municipal managers and local farmers regarding the public call for school meals through group interviews, using the FOFA matrix (Forces, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Threats) and individual questionnaire with open questions. Descriptive statistics was used for quantitative data and thematic content analysis was used as a methodology for qualitative data. Results: The results showed that local farmers predominantly contribute to the supply of vegetables in local commerce, traders reported difficulties with diversification and frequency in local production. The survey covered 67% of farmers who sell their products at the fair, with which it would be possible to meet the need for some items of school meals in the municipality. The municipal managers have difficulties... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The Real Food Challenge (RFC) is a national student movement that is trying to harness student power to shift $1 billion'roughly 20% of college and university food budgets across the country towards local, ecologically sound, fair, and humane food sources, what they call "real" food, by 2020. The University of Vermont (UVM) was the fifth university in the country to sign the Real Food Campus Commitment, pledging to shift at least 20% of its own food budget towards "real" food by 2020. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the implementation of the Real Food Campus Commitment at UVM. In order to examine the demand for "real" food on the UVM campus I analyzed a survey of 904 undergraduate students that used contingent valuation to evaluate students' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the "real" food attributes. I found that a majority of students are willing to pay a positive premium for "real" food, but that the average premium is quite small. Furthermore, I found that student characteristics and attitudes significantly influence WTP. Specifically, gender, residency, college, and attitudes about price and origin of food are significant predictors of WTP. To evaluate the potential of the RFC to significantly transform the food system I analyzed the activities and components of the RFC using the framework of food democracy. In addition to analyzing the activities and components of the RFC as a national movement, I analyzed the movement as it is being realized on the ground at UVM. My analysis reveals that the RFC has the potential to transform the food system because it promotes all five dimensions of food democracy as both a national movement and as realized on the ground at one university. Both of my analyses suggest that the RFC has significant potential to transform the food system at UVM, but that food systems education for the greater student body will crucial to see that potential fulfilled. This thesis can contribute to the success of the Real Food movement at UVM by identifying areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement in terms of increasing student preference for "real" food and promoting food democracy. Moreover, this thesis may be useful for national RFC staff and other campuses that are implementing the RFC, as it demonstrates how the RFC is being played out on the ground at an institution that is at the forefront of the movement.