Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Environmental and Urban Studies

Project Advisor 1

Jordan Ayala

Abstract/Artist's Statement

The paper examines the potential for Hudson Valley farms to better meet local needs for iterative, healthy and accessible food systems and community food spaces. I discuss potential for positive social change by addressing the strains imposed by capitalist systems on labor relations, problems with consumer accessibility, and the social stratification of food systems and spaces. My research includes interviews with Dutchess and Ulster County farmers, participant observation, literature analysis, and data analysis. The paper discusses labor practices, food distribution methods, food insecurity, and aspects of community building in the Hudson Valley’s alternative food network. It explores commodification within the social-relational dynamics of local food systems, discussing economic class dynamics and shifts in public attitudes toward agriculture by addressing the changing populations and income demographics between the Hudson Valley and its metropol, New York City. This paper looks at on-the-ground efforts and circumstances of some small scale Hudson Valley farms and investigates how small-scale agriculture can be structured to better facilitate equitable local food systems, the viability of farming, and food accessibility.

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Open Access

Creative Commons License

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