Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Park, John L.

Toensmeyer, Ulrich C.

Wysocki, Allen F.

English

Research Papers in Economics

Offering  Food Distribution-Related  Courses in Agricultural
Economics  Curricula: Perspectives  from Across  the U.S.
Allen  F. Wysocki,  Ulrich  C. Toensmeyer,  and John Park
The vast majority of students who graduate with
Agribusiness/Agricultural  Economic degrees find
themselves in non-traditional agricultural positions.
Many of our students are finding work in stages of
the food system closer to the  end consumer (e.g.,
food  wholesaling,  food  retailing,  and
restauranteering).  A few Agricultural Economics
departments have begun to offer courses related to
food distribution in an effort to better prepare stu-
dents who  are responding to the demand for jobs
outside of traditional production agriculture.
This  teaching  report session  promoted  a dis-
cussion of challenges and opportunities in prepar-
ing and presenting a food distribution-related  cur-
riculum  to students.  Presenters  shared  insights
along the following seven fronts:
(how  this  course  fits  a  particular
department's  overall  curriculum,  if it is
required  for a major,  number of students
enrolled, how often it is taught, etc.).
(2)  Discussion of  course content, including ex-
amples.
(3)  Illustration of unique aspects of the course
such as field trips, guest speakers, projects,
interaction with industry, etc.
(4)  Insight as to how course facilitators  keep
current with changes  in the food system.
(5)  Future plans for the course/curriculum
(6)  How to attract students to a food-distribu-
tion based program.
(7)  How to find jobs for students interested in
food distribution/food  industry  manage-
ment careers.
(1)  Presentation of background information on
a particular food distribution-related course
Wysocki  is assistant  professor  specializing  in food  industry
management,  Food and Resource Economics at the University
of Florida. Toensmeyer is professor,  Department of Food and
Resource  Economics  at the University  of Delaware.  Park  is
visiting  assistant  professor,  Department  of Agricultural
Economics  at Texas A&M University.

OFFERING FOOD DISTRIBUTION-RELATED COURSES IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS CURRICULA: PERSPECTIVES FROM ACROSS THE U.S.

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Research Papers in Economics