David Conner grew up in central Pennsylvania and holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Cornell and Masters in Extension Education from UVM. His professional interests span the economics of sustainable food systems from farm to fork. David lives in Burlington with his three children. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, especially hiking, making music and gardening.
Professor
Publications
Recent Academic Journal Articles
- Wang, W., Hollas, C., Chase, L., Conner, D., & Kolodinsky, J. (2022). Challenges for the agritourism sector in the United States: Regional comparisons of access. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 11(4), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2022.114.003.
- Hoffelmeyer, M., Conner, D., Strube, J., Hatanaka, M., Konefal, J., & Glenna, L. (2022, In Press). Multistakeholder initiatives and their prospects for sustainability: The farmer perspective. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 1-9. doi:10.1017/S1742170522000047
- Cunningham, N., Conner, D., Whitehouse, C., Blair, H., & Krueger, J. (2022). Beyond procurement: Anchor institutions and adaptations for resilience. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 11(3), 57–73. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2022.113.006
- Ostrom, M., Conner, D., Tambet, H., Smith, K., Sirrine, J., Howard, P. and Miller, M.(Accepted for publication 12/20/2021). Research and Extension Needs for Craft Cider Apple Growers. HortTechnology
- White, A.C., Faulkner, J.W., Conner, D.S., Mendez, V.E., and M.T. Niles, M.T. (In Press) “How can you put a price on the environment?” Farmer perspectives on stewardship and payment for ecosystem services. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
Hatanaka, M., Konefal, J., Strube, J., Glenna, L., & Conner, D. (In Press). Performance Metrics, Digital Technologies, and Sustainability in Food and Agriculture. Rural Sociology.
Strube, J., Glenna, L., Hatanaka, M., Konefal, J., & Conner, D. (Forthcoming). How Data-Driven, Privately Ordered Sustainability Governance Shapes US Food Supply Chains: The Case of Field to Market. Journal of Rural Studies.
Hollas, C., Chase, L., Conner, D., Dickes, L., Lamie ,D., Schmidt, C, Singh-Knights, D., and Quella, L. (2021). Factors related to profitability of agritourism in the United States: Results from a national survey of operators. Sustainability 13, 13334. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313334 . https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/23/13334/pdf
- White, A.; Faulkner, J.W.; Conner, D.; Barbieri, L.; Adair, E.C.; Niles, M.T.; Mendez, V.E.; Twombly, C.R. (2021). Measuring the Supply of Ecosystem Services from Alternative Soil and Nutrient Management Practices: A Transdisciplinary, Field-Scale Approach. Sustainability 13, 10303. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810303
Robinson, K., Conner, D., Baker, D., Tuck, A., Abrams, L., McAneny, A., Frankenfield, R. and Warner, C. (2021). College Student Demand for Humanely Raised Livestock Product: Evidence from Vermont. Journal of Food Service Management and Education 15 (2) 24-31.
- Quella, L., Chase, L., Conner, D., Reynolds, T., Wang, W., Singh-Knights, D. (2021). Visitors and Values: A Qualitative Analysis of Agritourism Operator Motivations Across the US. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 10 (3)
Becot, F., Parker, J. Conner, D., Pivarnik, L., Richard, N. and Hirsch, D. (2021). Financially able and willing to invest in food safety practices? The example of produce growers in New England states (USA). Food Control 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107451
Greco, L., Kolodinsky, J., Sitaker, M., Chase, L., Conner, D., Estrin, H., Smith, D., & Van Soelen Kim, J. (2020). Farm Fresh Food Boxes: Relationships in Value Chain Partnerships. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(4), 113–129. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.094.012
- Conner, D. (2020). Resource Management for Sustainable Food Businesses: Three Vermont Case Studies. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 9 (3)
- Walsh, J., Parsons, R., Wang, Q. and Conner, D. (2020). What Makes an Organic Dairy Farm Profitable? Evidence from 10 Years of
Farm Level Data in Vermont. Agriculture 2020, 10, 17; doi:10.3390/agriculture10010017
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/1/17 - Conner, D. Becot, F., Kahler, E. Claro, J. and Harlow, A. (2020). Counting local food consumption: longitudinal data and lessons from Vermont. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2020.092.007
https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/773/760 - Wang, Q., Valchuis, L. Thompson, E., Conner, D. and Parsons, R. (2019). Consumer Support and Willingness to Pay for Electricity from Solar, Wind, and Cow Manure in the
United States: Evidence from a Survey in Vermont.. Energies 2019, 12(23), 4467; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12234467
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/23/4467 - Conner, D., Harrington, H., Heiss, S. and Berlin, L. (2019). How can Food Hubs best serve their buyers? Perspectives from Vermont. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2019.1683114
- Konefal, J., Hatanaka, M., Strube, J., Glenna, L. and Conner, D. (2019). Sustainability Assemblages: From Metrics Development to Metrics Implementation in United States Agriculture. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.10.023
- Conner, D., Sims, K., Berkfield, R. and Harrington, H. (Published online December 12, 2017). Do farmers and other suppliers benefit from sales to food hubs? Evidence from Vermont. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition.
- Porter, J. Conner, D. Kolodinsky, J. and Trubek, A. (2017). Get Real: an analysis of student preference for real food. Agriculture and Human Values 34, (4), 921-932
- Conner, D. Becot, F. and Imrie, D. (2017). Critical Reflections on the USDA Local Food Economics Toolkit. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 7 (2).
- Becot, F., Bradshaw, T and Conner, D. (In Press). Growing Apples for the cider industry in the U.S. Northern Climate of Vermont: Does the Math add up? ActaHort.
Conference Proceedings
- Conner, D., Montri, A. and Hamm, M. (2009). Demand for Local Produce from Passive Solar Greenhouses: Contributions to Sustainable Food Systems. Journal of Food Distribution Research 25 (1) 47-52
- Martinez, L., Conner, D., Bingen, J. and Reardon, E. (2009). Great Lakes Organic Produce in Wholesale and Retail Grocery Outlets: Opportunities and Challenges from Michigan. Journal of Food Distribution Research 25 (1) 118-122.
- Conner, D. (2004). Beyond Organic: Information Provision for Sustainable Agriculture in a Changing Market. Journal of Food Distribution Research 35 (1) 34-39.
- Conner, D. and Christy, R. (2004). The Organic Label: How to Reconcile its Meaning with Consumer Preferences. Journal of Food Distribution Research 35 (1) 40-43.
- Conner, D. (2003). The Organic Label: Does The USDA Definition Conform To Consumer Preferences? In Lockeretz, W., Editor, Ecolabels and the Greening of the Food Market, Proceedings of a Conference, Boston MA, November 7-9, 2002. Tufts University, Boston, MA, 35-40.
- Conner, D. and Christy, R. (2002). Consumer Preferences for Organic Standards: Guiding Demand Expansion Strategies for Organic Food. Journal of Food Distribution Research 33 (1) 46-51.
Associations and Affiliations
- Food Distribution Research Society
- Agriculture Food and Human Values Society
Areas of Expertise and/or Research
The economics of sustainable food systems.
Education
- PhD, Cornell, Agricultural Economics, 2002
- Master of Extension Education, UVM, 1997
- BS, Penn State, Life Science, 1987
Contact
- 802.656.1965
205 H Morrill Hall
Courses Taught
- CDAE 2680: Marketing for Community Entrepreneurs
- CDAE 3500 SL: Applied Research Methods
- CDAE/FS 6210 The Economics of Sustainable Food Systems
- CDAE 6590: Applied Econometrics