Rural Foodies - Investigating Swedish Female Foodie Practices in Rural Areas

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how Swedish female foodies practice their food hobby while living in rural areas. A qualitative study was conducted with an inductive approach, using food diaries and semi-structured in depth interviews. This study is part of a larger Foodie research study conducted by Sofia Ulver. Our theoretical perspective has its starting point in Consumer Culture Theory (CCT). From this perspective we have looked at food culture, female foodie practice and rural living. Food diaries have been collected from six female respondents, followed by in-depth interviews, one of them by telephone. This empirical material has later been analysed with theoretical knowledge gained in this research process The main conclusion from this thesis is that a rural foodie values the higher life quality that they feel they get on the countryside. The narrow selection of special food product does not hinder our respondents to cook fine and good food. Instead they cultivate and purchase food products from local farmers. In addition, they do not experience a lack of inspirational sources, due to their rural location. Rather, they get inspired by, for example, travels, eating at restaurants and TV-chefs.