Will Work for Food

Examining the essential role—and exploitation—of frontline workers across the food chain.

Consumers are demanding a healthier and more sustainable food system. Yet labour is rarely part of the discussion. In Will Work for Food, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern and Teresa M. Mares chronicle labour across the food chain, connecting the entire food system—from fields to stores, restaurants, home kitchens, and even garbage dumps.

Using a political economy framework, the authors argue that improving labour standards and building solidarity among frontline workers across sectors is necessary for creating a more just food system. What would it take, they ask, to move towards a food system that is devoid of human exploitation? Combining insights from food systems and labour justice scholarship with actionable recommendations for policymakers, the book is a call to action for labour activists, food studies students and scholars, and anyone interested in food justice.