Abstract
Carceral systems, deeply rooted in historical injustice, extend their ideologies, logics, and practices into society, including food systems. The use of prison labor in agriculture and food systems is notably underdiscussed. The practice of employing incarcerated individuals in agriculture and food production processes raises profound ethical and human rights concerns, echoing historical legacies of exploitation and systemic inequalities. This study aims to examine consumer attitudes and willingness to pay for food produced without the use of incarcerated labor, focusing on milk production in the dairy industry. My research seeks to gauge whether consumers who are informed about the ethical implications of labor in food production, are willing to pay for milk that has labels signaling adherence to certain standards of treatment for workers. This study draws parallels with previous research on consumer demand for child-labor-free products, indicating a potential for consumers to support socially sustainable practices. I deployed a discrete choice experiment survey with approximately 2500 US consumers, with consideration to respondents with carceral experience, and groups overrepresented in carceral spaces, namely African American and Hispanic/Latino respondents. This survey evaluates preferences for milk based on attributes such as minimum wage payment, use of prison labor, work environment safety, and organic certification. By analyzing consumer choices, this research aims to inform producers and policymakers about the potential demand for a labor sustainability label, akin to USDA Organic, advocating for fair labor practices and the exclusion of carceral labor in the broader context of social sustainability standards, similar to FairTrade.
