David Conner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) at the University of Vermont (UVM). David is the coordinator of the CDAE MS program and is affiliated with the UVM Food Systems Graduate program, serving on two committees. Prior to coming to Vermont, David was on the faculty of Michigan State University for six years.
David's professional interests span the economics of sustainable food systems from farm to fork, with particular interest in the role of food systems in community development. Research topics have included farm viability, farmer adoption of sustainable practices, consumer demand for locally and sustainably grown foods, food value chains, farm to institution, and economic contribution metrics. Recent research interests include agritourism and food resilience.
David has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles on sustainable agriculture, food systems and community development. David has expertise in applied economics and mixed methods research. David serves on the editorial board of three transdisciplinary food systems journals.