Generosity development model of an organic food community in Thailand

Abstract

Learning and sharing in a dynamic society causes exchanges and generosity within groups. This qualitative study aimed to explain the generosity development patterns of an organic urban market and a CSA group, and to show the spiritual values in an organic food community reflecting upon the learning mechanism of co-existence. The research employed a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews among 38 participants selected using the snowball technique. The core method was managed using content analysis. Based on the findings, generosity development was defined as a learning process for relationship construction. This process possessed three special characteristics. Firstly, it constituted an individual learning process characterized by high adaptability wherein agents could accept various exchange situations. Secondly, interactions between two agents were noted to reflect every moment to transformative learning in a relationship status. These two case studies satisfied their own exchange together to maintain relationships. Lastly, a middleman’s participation was observed, who facilitated dialogs to be crystal clear for sharing food safety and food security issues. It could be noted that the key success was the learning obtained from transformative individual characteristics to group constructions. The consequence of the learning process produced trading exchange activity and a paradigm shift of all stakeholders towards sympathy, empathy, and generosity. As a result, the investigation of the social interactions between producers and consumers of organic vegetables possessed value in the social interactions occurring through consumption. Furthermore, interaction reflects a learning process leading to co-management and harmonious coexistence among people.