Encyclopedia of Organic, Sustainable, and Local Food

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A comprehensive compilation of entries illuminates the key trends, activities, and themes in organic, sustainable, and local food, covering consumers, organizations, farming, policies, and much more. The Encyclopedia of Organic, Sustainable, and Local Food pulls together a fascinating array of diverse, interdisciplinary topics to provide a thorough overview of our current alternative food system. With increasing attention focused on organic and local food, many people are attracted to these sustainable food choices. Yet despite its popularity, there are misconceptions and a general lack of understanding about organic and local food. This encyclopedia illuminates social concerns, economic trends, policy influences, and ecological terms to provide a comprehensive overview. Contributions from expert authors from government agencies, research universities, and private organizations provide key information on each of these relevant topics. Eating is a basic human activity, yet many people do not know where their food comes from. This book helps readers fill the gap between the trendy and the factual.

Reviews

This important book encourages readers to look to the past as well as the future by getting involved in their local food community. A wonderful addition to a range of collections. * Library Journal *
For students and general readers, Duram (geography and environmental resources, Southern Illinois U. Carbondale) offers an encyclopedia that contains about 140 entries by scholars, government experts, and activists on all aspects of organic food and farming, local food production and consumption, and sustainable food initiatives, including farmers markets, health issues, economic terms, organic big business, USDA organic standards, food labels, and organizations. Topics relate to activism, movements, and community aspects like animal welfare and vegetarian diets; agriculture subjects such as organic milk, bees, genetically engineered crops, pesticides, and water quality; animals, fish, and seafood; business and economic issues like cloning, fast food, and globalization; education; environmental issues; government agencies and policies; health; and theories and concepts like free trade. * Reference & Research Book News *
The encyclopedia is both easy to read and comprehend and well positioned costwise to compete in the public library market as well as providing great information for the undergraduate. Recommended for most libraries. * Booklist *
Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers. * Choice *
This informative guide is recommended for academic and public libraries. * Lawrence Looks at Books *
Recommended for high school, public, and undergraduate library collections. * Reference & User Services Quarterly *
polished production, giving a good overview and taking a broad perspective to incorporate issues such as sustainability and local food. * Reference Reviews *

Author Bio

Leslie A. Duram is professor and chair of the department of geography and environmental resources at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.