The Marketing of Gathered Food As an Economic Strategy of Women in Northeastern Thailand

Abstract

Gathered food is traditionally important in the diet of many societies. As socio-cultural patterns change, however, these items may be used for other purposes, thus triggering further change. This paper examines the impact of an emerging economic strategy: marketing gathered food in northeastern Thailand. The women in our sample who marketed gathered food reported earning more money than the non-vendors. Their contribution to family income was more significant than their husbands', and greater than the combined earnings of other family members. Vendors used their earnings to meet social and religious obligations as well as basic household needs. The paper discusses the effects of the sale of gathered food items traditionally used for home consumption on women's time allocation patterns and household nutrition.