@article{ETD,
      author = {Carlson, Ericka},
      url = {http://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/7688},
      title = {"Sustainable" food corporations and sustainable food  systems: on the possibilities of engagement for food  systems change},
      publisher = {Marylhurst University: Oregon Health and Science  University},
      abstract = {The topic of private actors, particularly retail grocers,  as agents in sustainable food systems has been given much  attention in agrifood scholar literature. However, much of  this attention has focused on large transnational  corporations and the detrimental effects they have on  sustainable food systems. There are other private actors in  the food system, actors who position themselves as  "sustainable" food companies and promote their efforts to  contribute to sustainable food systems. This study  problematizes that agrifood scholars are not considering  the role of self-identified "sustainable" food companies in  creating sustainable food systems. Using discourse  analysis, I examine Agrifood scholar perceptions of retail  supermarkets and food service companies. Then, I narrow to  two examples, Whole Foods Market (WFM) and Bon Appetit  Management Company (BAMCO) to explore Agrifood scholar  characterizations of these companies. Finally, I turn to  the discourse of WFM and BAMCO to study how they  characterize their engagements in building sustainable food  systems that prioritize social justice and environmental  sustainability. In this research, I find that 1) Agrifood  scholars clearly identify unprecedented levels of power and  control by private actors, including retail supermarkets;  2) As retail supermarkets assume a role of influencing  production and consumption beyond their historic role in  distribution, they play a critical role in Agrifood system  transformation; and 3) In studying company engagements, I  find that companies are engaging in some activities  identified by scholars as crucial for building food system  sustainability. This study concludes that there exists an  opportunity for additional Agrifood research into the role  "sustainable" food companies might play in creating  sustainable food systems.},
      number = {ETD},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.6083/6q182k673},
      recid = {7688},
      address = {2015},
}