Drivers of and Barriers to Organic Purchase Behavior

Using a cost–benefit approach, this study is the first to jointly investigate supply-side factors and consumer characteristics that drive or hinder organic purchases. With scanner data that track actual purchase behavior in 28 product categories, the authors find that organic products are less popular in vice categories and categories with high promotional intensity and more popular in fresh versus processed categories. Biospheric values that reflect a person's concern for the environment and animal welfare increase organic purchases. Quality and health motives drive organic purchases only in certain categories, in particular categories with a low promotional intensity. Egoism and price consciousness act as barriers to organic purchases.     

Cuban agricultural policy in the last 25 years. From conventional to organic agriculture

Political, social, economic and environmental changes undergone in Cuba in recent decades have led to several well-differentiated production models or systems, and have led to profound transformation of Cuban farmland. This article analyses those changes and transformations in three key stages or chronological periods of Cuban agricultural policy, the Green Revolution, the Special Period and Economic Reanimation. The analysis emphasizes the environmental, social and economic effects of each period, and especially, the change from a conventional intensive to an alternative or organic farming system, which has become an example to be followed.     

浅谈有机化学实验室管理新思路

高校有机化学实验室,由于其自身学科和教学工作的特殊性,必须对其严格管理,为有机化学的教学和科研提供安全卫生的实验室条件。而有机化学实验室,由于其对象一般比较有危险性,参与主体又是学生,因此,我们要注重用科学可行的绿色安全的管理方法,来实现实验室的重要功能。     

Organic food consumption in Europe: International segmentation based on value system differences

In this paper, we analyze the market for organic products in eight European countries, based on differences in their respective value systems. With a significant sample of 8014 consumers, we first identify international segments in the European organic products market using the Values Theory. Then we apply the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine how European consumers use attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control to form their purchase intention for organic products. Results show that subjective norms are the main underlying factor driving consumer behavior concerning these products. This effect is higher for the group of countries whose citizens score higher on Schwartz's value scale. In this segment of countries, people are more likely to be affected by what others think, which means that the best approach is to increase social awareness of the relevance of purchasing organic products. Organic products represent a potentially profitable opportunity for companies with an international horizon. Results are also useful for consumers and public administrations.     

Healthy Food at Work? An Examination of a Proposed Catering Service Concept

The U. S. catering industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. A major trend in the overall foodservices industry involves the healthy eating movement among consumers. Along with restaurants and foodservice contractors, caterers are responding to growing consumer demand for healthier fare. While caterers serve various target markets (e.g., event organizers, charities, civic groups, individuals), there is a need to research the viability of providing healthy food to the business market. A service concept test among decision makers at 36 companies is used here to provide an evaluation of a proposed catering service specializing in healthy food that would serve local businesses. The findings indicate that the healthy eating movement does extend to today's workplace. Overall, respondents are favorably disposed to the proposed service. Indeed, businesses appear to be a promising target market for caterers offering healthy food.     

The Marketing of Organic Products: An Instrumental/Symbolic Perspective

ABSTRACT

The fact that organic products are growing in popularity is indisputable. This article looks at organics from an instrumental/symbolic perspective and discusses the marketing implications associated with this perspective. Additionally, the article identifies a number of issues for future research that should be examined in the context of organic product marketing.     

齐齐哈尔市绿色食品网络营销发展战略研究

网络营销是一种新兴的市场营销模式，它在互动性、广泛性、快捷性、可控性等方面来说，是传统营销无法比拟的；对齐齐哈尔市来说，绿色食品发展是新的经济增长点，而网络营销是实现经济发展战略的有效途径之一。应从牢固树立绿色食品网络营销理念、绿色食品网络营销策略、加大绿色食品网络营销的投入、在绿色食品网络营销中实施绿色管理等四个方面打造齐齐哈尔市绿色食品网络营销体系。     

The influence of socio‐economic status on salt consumption in Northern Ireland

The long‐established association between high salt consumption and hypertension has led to calls for a reduction in salt intake. There is particular concern for the health status of Northern Irish consumers, who already have among the highest rates of coronary heart disease and stroke in the United Kingdom. With these concerns in mind, it is essential to establish the sources and patterns of salt consumption from discretionary and processed food sources before a reduction can be achieved. This study investigated differences in salt consumption patterns among consumers of varying socio‐economic status. Research consisted of a consumer questionnaire (n = 360) distributed within Northern Ireland. The results of the study revealed high discretionary salt usage and frequent consumption of processed foods among consumers of lower socio‐economic status. General observations from the questionnaire would suggest a need for improved health education for consumers in this group. The objective of health promotion should be to encourage a reduction in table and cooking salt usage and, in particular, in the consumption of highly salted processed foods. Enhanced product labelling is also encouraged to increase consumer awareness of current salt levels in food and of the availability of low‐salt foods. In addition, the results of this study advocate further development activity in the production of product formulations with low‐salt status.     

Beyond Prototypes: Drivers of Market Categorization in Functional Foods and Nanotechnology

We develop a nuanced understanding of what drives producers’ and audiences’ categorization activities throughout market category development. Prior research on market categories assumes prototypical similarity to be the main or even only driver of categorization. Drawing on a comparative, longitudinal case study of the market categories ‘functional foods’ and ‘nanotechnology’ in Finland, we find that evolving perceptions, knowledge, and goals also impact categorization. Furthermore, our analysis uncovers that goal‐based categorization is characteristic for vital market categories, and the lack thereof may mark a waning interest and category decline. Overall, while previous research stresses the role of clear boundaries and knowledge bases for a viable category, we find that overly strict boundaries may constrain category vitality and renewal.     

Buying your way into a healthier lifestyle: a latent class analysis of healthy food purchases

A nonhypothetical second-price Vickrey auction was conducted to elicit consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for vegetable attributes, including production technique, origin, taste and health benefits. Using a latent class analysis (LCA) we segmented participants based on health-driven motivations, WTP estimates and socio-economic characteristics. Two latent classes were found and characterized as: ‘Health Conscious’ and ‘Health Redeemers’. In particular, the ‘Health Conscious’ consumers presented healthy lifestyle habits, expressed price premiums for domestic and local-specialty food products after a blind tasting treatment, but they did not have price premiums for health benefits of the products. On the contrary, the ‘Health Redeemers’ presented unhealthy lifestyles but they were willing to pay more for healthy food products, perhaps in an attempt to make up for their unhealthy habits.