Different conceptions of place: Alternative food networks and everyday meals

This review uses the concepts of place and space to provide insights into recent critical geographic approaches to food and agriculture. For alternative foods, the use of the term “alternative” has changed markedly from indicating a contrast with conventional food to signifying a broader commitment to progressive politics. In contrast, everyday meals highlight how people navigate conflicting claims on their limited resources. For everyday meals, the moral economy is a flexible concept that reveals how food connects people both economically and morally. Food creates powerful connections for linking people together through food chains, regional identities, and progressive politics. This critical review of the role of place for food raises important questions about how progressive politics are applied to different places and the evolving role of critical food scholars.