(Un)forbidden fruits : The influence of culture, nature and place on fruit and berry picking in Skarpnäck

Abstract: Standardised systems of food production where food is brought into cities from far away is accompanied with high emissions from both production and transport. Simultaneously, food growing in the urban surroundings is not picked and left to rot. This thesis is concerned with urban foraging, the practice of picking edibles in the urban landscape, a practice often overlooked by research and policymakers. The case study area is Skarpnäck, southern Stockholm and the focus is specifically on foraging of fruit and berries from public vegetation. Using a qualitative mixed methods approach where a questionnaire was followed by interviews, the aim has been to assess how the practice is perceived in the case study area and if there are certain cultural norms that limit picking activities. Results suggest that foraging is perceived to be out of place in the urban area. Although some people do pick, others feel it is inappropriate and do not want to be seen picking fruit or berries and therefore limit picking. The thesis concludes that urban foraging has the potential to increase urban sustainability, but efforts are needed for foraging to be a culturally accepted practice.