Agenda

28 Mar 2025 16:00

Navigating Natureculture Timescapes: Mobility and Maturation in the Work of Importing Cheese

Tesa 1, Zattere

Navigating Natureculture Timescapes: Mobility and Maturation in the Work of Importing Cheese
28 March 2025, 4PM CET
Tesa 1 Zattere

Heather Anne Paxson
MIT School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Abstract:
Drawing on ethnographic research, this paper traces the practical and semiotic work of moving European cheeses (and other perishable foods) across oceans and international borders into the United States. Aiming to preserve perishable values — including the edibility and palatability of fragile foods, as well as the commodity value of goods — retailers, importers and customs brokers work to harmonize the natureculture timescapes of mobility and perishability. The skilled work of exporting/importing cheese reveals the role of time — beyond “terroir” elements of place — in consolidating the material qualities that are valued in specialty foods.

Language

The event will be held in English

Organized by

NICHE

Downloads

poster 3330 KB

Search in the agenda