206. Julie Guthman on The Strawberry Industry and California Agriculture

In this week’s podcast, we are joined by Julie Guthman, geographer and professor of social sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has taken particular interest in California agriculture and in the evolving character of the alternative food movement as it confronts race, class, and bodily difference.  More recently, she has explored the intersection of knowledge practices and political economy in the construction of healthy food and bodies, especially in light of emergent science on non-nutritional pathways to metabolic illness.  She retains an abiding interest in the history and geography of California agriculture. These themes converged in her recent research on the California strawberry industry, first inspired by a contentious fight over the soil fumigant methyl iodide, which is a replacement for ozone-depleting methyl bromide and has possible epigenetic effects.  Tune in to hear all about Julie’s research and what she has uncovered about food production country wide! About the Guest: Julie Guthman is a geographer and professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she conducts research on the conditions of possibility for food system transformation in the US. Her most recent book, Wilted: Pathogens, Chemicals, and the Fragile Future of the Strawberry Industry, was the recipient of the 2020 American Association of Geographers Meridian Award for outstanding scholarly work in geography. Her prior publications include two multi-award winning monographs, an edited collection, about fifty peer-reviewed journal articles and dozens of other book chapters, book reviews, commentaries, and public-facing pieces. Currently, she is the principal investigator of the UC-AFTeR Project, a multi-campus collaboration exploring Silicon Valley’s recent forays into food and agriculture.  Resources:Website - https://communitystudies.ucsc.edu/faculty1/cmmu-faculty.php?uid=jguthman The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! Harvest Hosts provides a cost-free opportunity for small businesses and farms to increase revenue simply by inviting  self-contained RV members to stay one night on their property. In return, Members patronize or donate to the business.  The program is free for farms to join and to share their offerings. There is no requirement to have hook-ups or services, just a place to park one RV.In exchange for the overnight stay, Harvest Hosts Members are encouraged to make a purchase of at least $20 at each host location they visit. Based on a recent survey, Harvest Hosts Members spend an average of $50 per night at each host location they visit. Well-established Hosts are reporting an average of $15,000 in additional annual revenue.  Become a Host For more information on how you can become a Host, contact Harvest Hosts at [email protected]  Be sure to mention the ​​Thriving Farmer Podcast on your application! Become a  Member If you have an RV and are interested in joining as a Member, visit HarvestHosts.com today.