Artisan Product
Assignment1: What makes an Artisan product?
What makes an Artisan product? In order to answer this question it is important to first ask, what is an artisan product, what is artisan? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an artisan is a skilled individual who can make specialty products using labor-intensive means. Hence, an artisan product must be a product made by these skilled individuals right? Not exactly, there are a lot of factors that go into creating a truly artisan product. This essay will therefore explore what factors come into play when classifying a product as artisan. To get a full understanding of artisan products it is also crucial to identify the co-relationship between artisan and authenticity. Finally, the essay will also look at why these items are important and how it can be affected by globalization.
The first factor to consider in the production of artisan goods, as hinted in the definition above is the producer itself. An artisan product is not processed using machinery, but handcrafted with great care by practiced individuals. As stated by The School of Artisan Food in Nottingham, England, “artisan is used to describe food produced by non-industrialized methods, often handed down through generations”. This aspect of the production cycle adds a very real character to the product that is meticulously prepared for consumption.
Artisan food gives their consumers products that have come from the heart and hand of their producers (Berrett et al, 2005). Artisan producers usually have a historical and cultural link to the products they make. They have an incredible understanding of the production cycle and will only keep getting better with time. Berrett et al (2005) also states that with this type of food every jar, bottle and bite holds a story. This factor of artisan products also adds a sense of personality to the goods.
The next important factor to look at is the origin or place. This refers to the place of production
What makes an Artisan product? In order to answer this question it is important to first ask, what is an artisan product, what is artisan? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an artisan is a skilled individual who can make specialty products using labor-intensive means. Hence, an artisan product must be a product made by these skilled individuals right? Not exactly, there are a lot of factors that go into creating a truly artisan product. This essay will therefore explore what factors come into play when classifying a product as artisan. To get a full understanding of artisan products it is also crucial to identify the co-relationship between artisan and authenticity. Finally, the essay will also look at why these items are important and how it can be affected by globalization.
The first factor to consider in the production of artisan goods, as hinted in the definition above is the producer itself. An artisan product is not processed using machinery, but handcrafted with great care by practiced individuals. As stated by The School of Artisan Food in Nottingham, England, “artisan is used to describe food produced by non-industrialized methods, often handed down through generations”. This aspect of the production cycle adds a very real character to the product that is meticulously prepared for consumption.
Artisan food gives their consumers products that have come from the heart and hand of their producers (Berrett et al, 2005). Artisan producers usually have a historical and cultural link to the products they make. They have an incredible understanding of the production cycle and will only keep getting better with time. Berrett et al (2005) also states that with this type of food every jar, bottle and bite holds a story. This factor of artisan products also adds a sense of personality to the goods.
The next important factor to look at is the origin or place. This refers to the place of production
References: Altiok, O. Bell, M M. Stiles, K 2011, ‘The Ghosts of Taste: Food and the Culture Politics of Authenticity’, Agriculture and Human Values, vol. 28, issue 2, p. 225-236, viewed 17 March 2013, EBSCOhost Web. Berrett, D., Breslau, K., Kalins, D., McCarthy, A., Richards, J., Whitford, B., 2005, “The Taste Makers”, Newsweek, Vol. 146, Issue 13, pp.48-54. Cornell, B. 2005, “Eld rimmer” National Swedish Centre for Artisan Food, viewed: 20 March 2013, <http://www.matis.is/media/new-nordic-food/Bodil-Cornell.pdf.> Stockdale, D 2009. ‘What is Artisanal Food?’ SFGate, viewed 17 March 2013, <http://blog.sfgate.com/stockdale/2009/10/30/what-is-artisanal-food/> 2013, “What is Artisan Food”, School of Artisan Food, Viewed: 23 March, <http://www.schoolofartisanfood.org/about-us/artisan-food>.