The juçara countermovement in Brazil
Agroecology and the (en)countering of commodification
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24218147 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Juliana Neira (0009-0000-1471-7641, University of Vermont), J Farley (0000-0002-5793-5240, University of Vermont), Abdon Schmitt Filho (0000-0002-3553-7727, University of Vermont) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-35 |
| Publication date | 2026-09-28 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2168-3565 • E-ISSN: 2168-3573 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/21683565.2026.2735864 |
| OpenAlex | W7214585800 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 87 |
Brazil is a leading producer of global food commodities following a corporate model that prioritizes profit maximization through industrial monocultures and cost externalization. This model disembeds foods from their social and ecological contexts, resulting in exploitation. Drawing on an empirical case study using ethnographic and reflexive methods, we examine small-scale enterprises in Brazil that produce and commercialize juçara, a fruit from a palm species ecologically vital to the Atlantic Forest. Once endangered due to the commodification of heart of palm (palmito), juçara fruit is being commercialized through agroecological principles. We argue that this is contributing to the palm’s ecological resurgence in the forest and as a cultural symbol. We explore the multiple social and ecological dimensions of juçara, emphasizing how they could be eroded by commodification. This case illustrates how agroecology creates openings for resistance against the commodification of food.
Agroecology · Atlantic forest · commodification of food · cultural symbolism · Food sovereignty · juçara · palm heart · palmito · Resistance · small-scale enterprises · Agriculture, Land Use, Rural Development · Oil Palm Production and Sustainability · Rural Development and Agriculture
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| Highly cited | No |
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