Abstract
This study aimed to derive measures for promoting the production of convenience foods utilizing local agricultural products. In July 2022, qualitative data were collected through focus group interviews (FGI) with six producers of convenience foods utilizing local agricultural products. Two producer FGIs were conducted online in groups of three. Problems and difficulties faced by the producers in production, processing, and distribution were examined. Measures were derived for promoting the production based on the responses received in the FGIs. To evaluate and obtain opinions on the derived measures, an online focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with three experts in the 6th industry in August 2022. The major problems faced by the producers were classified into five subject areas: supply of local agricultural products, supply to institutional food services, education and training, nutritional analysis, and employment and labor. To promote production, the measures derived for each of the above areas, respectively, were as follows: establishing information channels on farms and local agricultural products, establishing direct communication channels between producers and institutional food service managers, providing nutrition marketing education for the producers, providing information on nutritional analysis, and providing policy support to solve labor shortage problems. In the FGD with the experts, all five measures received positive responses and specific additional guidelines were suggested. The proposed five measures are expected to significantly contribute to developing further specific policies and programs that will enable promoting the production of convenience foods utilizing local agricultural products.
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