Consumers’ Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Organic Fruits and Vegetables: Marketing Trends for Organic Food in the Twenty-First Century

ABSTRACT

Organic food market is very challenging in Europe and developing rapidly with different rates between the western and eastern parts. The objective of this report is to gain knowledge about attitudes toward organic fruits and vegetables among Slovenian consumers. Results indicated that organic buyers tend to be younger and higher educated than those who do not buy them. In addition, consumers’ trust in the authenticity of the goods and price are also issues. However, the main barrier to increase the market share of organic products is consumer information. According to the research results an important task for the producers will be to increase consumers’ knowledge of what an organic product is and how to differentiate it in the marketplace. Along with knowledgeable and educated consumers, consumption could be raised on another level. The results of the research could be used for planning further marketing activities.     

Exchange Rates and Turkish Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Trade with the EU Countries: Bilateral Trade Data Analysis

This study examines the role of exchange rate on Turkey's fresh fruits and vegetables bilateral trade balance with 14 trading partners in the European Union. Because dynamic effects of exchange rate changes on trade balances have been hypothesized as the J-curve effect, special attention is paid to investigate whether or not the J-curve hypothesis is observable. To this end, we apply the bounds testing cointegration approach to the trade balance model for the period of 1995:q1–2007:q2. Results support evidence of the J-curve effect in 2 cases in the short run. In the long run, the exchange rate has a positive impact on the trade balance in 7 out of 14 cases.     

农产品商品化设备使用率调查研究

目的 商品化是提高农产品附加值的主要途径,其效率高低与设备使用率紧密相关,究竟我国农产品商品化设备使用率如何,下一步应如何调整和应对,这是降低农产品流通成本、优化农产品供应链亟需厘清的问题。方法 文章以7种重要果蔬产品为对象,对全国6个农产品产区10个县级经济区域开展典型调查,采用统计分析、问卷调查、面对面访谈等方式,定量测算商品化设备使用率,并进行分析。结果 全国6个产区果蔬商品化设备使用率平均为21.78%。其中,水果类产品商品化设备使用率处于10%~45%之间,蔬菜类产品不足10%;干燥环节和分级环节设备使用率分别为31.40%、38.98%,预冷环节和包装环节分别为8.30%、6.59%。结论 农产品商品化设备使用率低,显著影响“小生产”与“大市场”的对接效率,也是导致我国农产品流通成本高、损耗大的重要原因所在,提高农产品商品化设备使用率的重点在于加强组织协作、加大政策支持、推动工商资本下乡、完善设备供给体系、加强宣传和培训等。     

脱水蔬菜(叶菜类)中镉的测定与潜在风险分析

通过对10份脱水蔬菜(叶菜类)进行预处理,应用配备石墨炉的原子吸收分光光度计,对样品中镉的含量进行测定。结果表明:样品中镉的含量为0.036mg/kg~0.123mg/kg。通过比较发现不同标准对镉的限量要求差别很大。参照相应的产品执行标准,只有40%是符合标准要求的,存在潜在风险。进一步对脱水蔬菜(叶菜类)中镉的来源进行分析,以期引起人们对环境保护的重视。     

蔬菜价格波动特征研究——基于ARCH类模型分析

利用ARCH类模型研究蔬菜价格波动特征问题。结果表明:18种蔬菜具有价格波动集簇性和异方差性,其中冬瓜等6种蔬菜的价格具有显著的异方差效应和波动集簇性。GARCH模型表明6种蔬菜的价格波动都具有显著地集簇性,按价格波动持续性强弱比较,冬瓜、大白菜、土豆、洋葱的价格波动持续性强于青椒和生姜;GARCH-M模型表明只有土豆和生姜具有高风险高回报的特征;TARCH和EARCH模型表明6中蔬菜都具有显著的非对称效应,其中除洋葱和青椒以外,其他4种蔬菜两个模型的非对称效应都使得价格波动减小。     

The extent of marketability and consumer preferences for traditional leafy vegetables – a case study at selected markets in Ghana

This paper reports on a survey conducted at two major marketing centres in Ghana; Tamale in the dry savannah zone and Kumasi in the forest zone. One hundred traders were interviewed using a semi‐structured questionnaire and focus groups discussions held on traders’ perceptions and consumer preferences, relative importance and indigenous nutritional knowledge of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs). The survey established that, with the exception of Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves), inter‐market distribution of TLVs is limited because of their perishable nature, narrow utilization base and lack of storage techniques. Socio‐culturally related factors limiting the distribution of TLVs include regional diversity and ethnic differences in the dietary patterns of the Ghanaian populace, inadequate knowledge about the methods of preparations as well as nutritional and medicinal values of TLVs. The most preferred TLVs as reflected in the consumers’ buying behaviour and traders’ perceptions are Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves), Corchorus spp.(Ayoyo), Amaranthus spp (Alefu) and Hibicus sabdariffa (Bra). The order of preference in the forest zone is Xanthosoma mafafa (cocoyam leaves) > Corchorus spp.(Ayoyo) > Amaranthus spp (Alefu) > Hibicus sabdariffa (Bra), while the reverse order pertains in the savannah zone.     

U.S. demand for organic and conventional vegetables: a Bayesian censored system approach

Demand for organic and conventional vegetables is investigated using data from A.C. Nielsen’s 2006 Homescan panel. We use a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, along with data augmentation, to estimate a large linear approximate Almost Ideal Demand System with censored dependent variables. Demands are price elastic, and expenditure elasticities are very high for organic vegetables, whilst demands for conventional vegetables are primarily inelastic. We find a mix of gross substitution and complementarity among the vegetable products, but net substitution is the dominant pattern. Socio‐demographic characteristics also play important roles in demands. These findings can inform deliberations about marketing campaigns, nutrition education and policy interventions.     

Nudging using the ‘dish of the day’ strategy does not work for plant‐based meals in a Danish sample of adolescent and older people

Adequate nutrition is an important factor for health and well‐being in adolescents and later years. Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy diet as important source of nutrients, but their intakes are lower than the recommendations in European countries. This study aimed to compare the choices made by adolescents and older people between three similar dishes, one based on meat, one on fish and one on vegetables, in two different conditions: a neutral (control) situation and an intervention situation in which the vegetable‐based meal was designated ‘dish of the day’. The comparisons of choices will be made within the same age group (adolescents in the control group vs. adolescents in the intervention group; older people in the control group vs. older people in the intervention group). A quasi‐randomised field trial design was used with a sample of 94 adolescents (aged 10–19 years) and 97 older people (aged ≥65 years), who were randomly allocated to intervention or control groups. In the control situation participants were asked to choose between three similar meals, one meat, one fish and one the VeggiEat dish. In the intervention, the VeggiEat dish was labelled the ‘Dish of the day’. All dishes were provided free of charge, displayed side by side in the same order and served in same portions. The dish choices showed no differences between the control and intervention groups in both age groups, and no differences were found among the other variables analysed. This nudging strategy, ‘dish of the day’, seems not to work for the Danish sample of adolescents and older people. Future nudging studies with these populations are needed in order to find the best strategy to move adolescents' and older people's food habits toward a healthier pattern.     

鲜切果蔬保鲜技术研究进展

鲜切果蔬因其丰富的营养,新鲜、方便的特性广受消费者欢迎,然而鲜切果蔬在加工、贮藏、销售等过程中,由于机械损伤、自身生理作用、微生物的侵染等因素易导致其变质衰老的进程加快,影响产品的货架期.本文从物理、化学、生物及果蔬贮藏新技术等方面论述了鲜切果蔬的保鲜技术,以期为今后鲜切果蔬的加工与生产提供理论依据与参考.     

气相色谱法在蔬菜中农药残留检测的实验研究

目的:了解气相色谱法在蔬菜农药残留检测中的应用情况.方法:文章依据随机抽样原则抽取5份样品,将样品切碎后匀浆粉碎,并经超声提取处理.利用HP-5弹性石英毛细管柱,测定了样品中残留的有机磷农药、氨基甲酸酯农药含量.结果:在0.01～1.00μg·mL-1加标浓度下,有机磷农药具有良好的线性关系,回收率为85.0％～100...