Research – Local food, CSA, and the COVID-19 pandemic

When the Covid 19 pandemic took off in the UK, and we were subject to the first lockdowns, one of the farms I worked with started its own food distribution network. We started an online shop with volunteers distributing food. To me, it was the community farming coming into its own and responding to very real food security needs. 

If we’re going to learn from past events or make things better for the future, then research is quite important. CSA Network UK like to help researchers with their work because, one day, that work may benefit us all. 

We’ve had a request from Libby, a Masters student from the University of Exeter, studying social research. 

Libby explains:

“I’m doing my dissertation on local food, community supported agriculture (CSA) and the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m interested in the impact that the pandemic had on local food and community supported agriculture and the ways in which they responded to it….I’m looking to interview anyone who was involved with community supported agriculture throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdowns (such as those who work on a CSA farm, volunteers, or shareholders).”

The interviews will be on Zoom and should take around 30 minutes.

This is a very small-scale study with only one researcher, so your participation would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to know more, have any questions or concerns, or would like to express an interest in participating, please email Libby at: eas237@exeter.ac.uk