On October 28, 2016, 16 students from Connecticut College, in the Economics of Food from a Feminist Perspective class (ISI Florence), took an event-filled trip to Modena and Bologna.

 

In Modena, they saw the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese at Caseificio Quattro Madonne; visited Acetaia Giusti, the oldest producer of vinegar in the world; and had a filling traditional 4-course lunch at Trattoria Pomposa, owned by noted local chef Luca Marchini. They then toured the historic center of Bologna and visited the medieval food market under the guidance of University of Bologna Professor of Art History Paolo Cova. The class particularly noted the gender division of labor in the various work places; and compared and contrasted the artisanal production and marketing of food in Italy with the more industrial corporate methods found back in the States. It was a truly thought-provoking, wonderful day!

 

 

Spencer J. Pack, PhD
Professor of Economics, Connecticut College