Food's role in tourism is multifaceted and complex. Food is not only essential to the body but is also integral to the experience; moreover, it is elusively embedded within society, culture, politics, institutions, and economy. Although food's complexity is conceptually explored within tourism studies, empirical investigations into the consumption of food are few and far between. In this study, we contribute an empirical analysis that employs both quantitative and qualitative data from fieldwork in a rural Norwegian region where there have been sustained efforts to develop and integrate "local food" and rural tourism. Three research questions are investigated: to what extent is "local food" consumed by tourists? What factors affect tourists' consumption of local food? For tourists interested in local food, what purpose does the consumption of "local food" serve? We find that only a minority of rural tourism's tourists have a special interest in food. Nonetheless, for those who possess this interest, we find that local food plays an important role to their tourist experiences. Furthermore, the study suggests that local food is a means employed by parents to educate their children in the ways of "the rural idyll".

a b s t r a c tNorway represents one of the last countries in Europe where the structural development of agriculture is strongly state regulated through legislation and economic instruments. The result is an agriculture dominated by very small farms while, in most of the rest of Europe, farming has been rationalised into much larger units e thus improving the structural efficiency of agriculture. This study looks at how and why the pattern of farmland control (ownership and renting) in Norway has changed over the last fifty years. Using a study of agricultural policy documents, an investigation of statistics on farmland control changes, and a qualitative survey, we explore the considerable growth in the number of partly rented farms over this period. We suggest that change is attributable to three key factors: techno-economic development leading to a growing need for economies of scale, social norms curbing the transfer of farm properties outside of the family, and policy and legal instruments reducing the extent of property transfer. In addition, the weakening of compensation to smaller farmers since the 1990s has encouraged many to leave agriculture and made more rental land available e ultimately leading to a rapid shift from traditional owner occupation to a predominantly rented land system.

a b s t r a c tProducts, collective organization and institutions are factors that shape farm tourism. The aim of this paper is to present new knowledge of the way these factors are designed and provide lessons for management in the sector. Research findings to date suggest these factors are varied but similarities within findings exist. However, while there have been a number of studies on the importance of each of the factors, few studies focus on the combined impact of them. This study attempts to go some way toward filling this knowledge gap. The empirical cases for the study are derived from three European locations: two regions in the Alps: North Tyrol in Austria and South Tyrol in Italy, and Norway. The breadth and variety of the product range differ. We also find clear contrasts between the cases when it comes to the structure of farm tourism organizations. However, the goals of the organizations are quite similar emphasizing three types of tasks: marketing, competence building and quality assurance. Concerning systems for quality assurance, a type of institutional factor, two cases are similar, while the third case (Norway) has a different (less strict) system. Based on a comparative analysis of the cases we develop a conceptual model showing the interdependence between products, organization and institutions in the farm tourism sector, and the influence of market and location. We provide some examples of application of the findings by various actors and agencies in tourism.

However studies shows that there are difficulties concerning the profitability in the sector.We approach the question from a supply chain perspective using a comparative case method. Five cases of local and regional forest based (wood chips) supply of heat in three regions were studied. The actors in the supply chains normally specialize in one or two stages in the chain and sell fuel and/or heat to municipal institutions and district heating plants. In all cases national financial support was important for releasing critical investments at various stages in the chains. Local political involvement was vital for the establishment of the chains, through influencing perceptions and ideas and through various techno-economical adaptations. Moreover, all focal actors in the chains were engaged in forest-related businesses and they benefit from using resources and obtaining income in different, related supply chains. Hence, they exploit "economies of scope". The links across supply chains make it relevant to study them as supply networks rather than chains. This also has managerial consequences. The profitability in the chains seems still quite modest, but nevertheless they contribute in increasing the share of bioenergy in Norway. Actors' exploitation of "economies of scope", local political engagement and national instruments for financial support are important factors in this development. ª

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