Open AccessCOVID-19 and Other Challenges: A Case Study of Certified Organic Green Tea Producers in China
Author(s) -
Ksenia Gerasimova,
Jiping Sheng,
Jiang Zhao
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
critical sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1569-1632
pISSN - 0896-9205
DOI - 10.1177/0896920520975843
Subject(s) - certification , agriculture , china , organic farming , pandemic , business , covid-19 , meaning (existential) , organic certification , agricultural economics , international trade , political science , economics , management , law , medicine , geography , psychology , archaeology , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , psychotherapist
This article explores how the western concept of “organic agriculture” has been applied in the traditional Chinese tea industry and how it has been tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using in-depth interviews and observations made during 2017–2020, we analyzed different meanings of organic agriculture and values that were given by Chinese farmers who are certified organic producers. Although organic agriculture, particular certified by international certification standards, is a foreign concept, producers invested efforts that go beyond the commercial pursuit for profit. Most importantly, the combination of the reiterated cultural meaning and health benefits of the certified organic tea with the visionary strategy has allowed these producers to shift in a timely manner from export to domestic markets and adapt to the pandemic’s barriers presented to the global trade.