From field to fork: A qualitative investigation of local food consumers' attitudes about membership in community supported agriculture programs and food cooperatives in southern Michigan and assessments of eating wild game meat and hunting as a mechanism

As hunting participation declines, wildlife agencies and conservation advocates recognize that to continue to fund conservation efforts through license and equipment sales, they must approach new, nontraditional demographics. Through 21 in-depth interviews with community supported agriculture (CSA) program members and food cooperative (co-op) members in southern Michigan, this research seeks to understand whether local food consumers may be a new demographic to consider. Four objectives for this work include: identify concepts in the way interviewees 1) describe membership in food co-ops and CSAs; 2) define characteristics important in food; 3) describe eating wild game meat; and 4) communicate views about hunting. Findings indicate interviewees are drawn to membership due to their personal ethics and interests, value convenient access to the type of foods they desire (healthy, chemical free, ethically produced). Interviewees are concerned about the safety of eating wild game but value the personal connection to food it provides and present both situations in which they approve and disapprove of hunting. Findings suggest managers consider engaging CSA/co-op members as hunters and/or hunting supporters. Messages should address how hunters use harvested meat, health aspects of eating wild protein, impact on wildlife populations, standards of hunter conduct/moral judgments, and emphasize hunting as a connection to people, the land, and the food we eat.