Organic Food Producers Research Articles

Organic Food Consumption: Application of Means-End Theory

This study is designed to examine the phenomenon of organic food consumption. The overarching goal is to help researchers and marketing practitioners understand how the phenomenon is generated, how organic shoppers experience organic food consumption, and to find significant elements in organic food consumption. Thus, this study examined the phenomenon in two manners. First, a qualitative study was explored to enrich our understanding about the meaning of organic foods and how organic foods are used to achieve organic shoppers’ goals and values. In-depth interviews with fifteen organic shoppers were analyzed by laddering/HVM. The result shows that a means-end hierarchy structure was applicable to organic food consumption. Second, an empirical study tested and validated the Means-End Theory by employing both objective, othersoriented and subjective, self-oriented perspectives. Utilizing an online survey method, a total of 512 completed responses were used for the data analyses. The analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) supported all the hypotheses testing the relationships among the four constructs (i.e., attributes, consequences, values, and behavioral outcomes) except for the moderating roles of preventive health care behavior and socially responsible behavior. The research model can motivate future researchers to further investigate factors involved in organic food consumption and assist organic food producers and retailers with practical information as they strive to better target and promote their products.

Ocena wsparcia rolnictwa ekologicznego przez instytucje z otoczenia rolnictwa

The purpose of this article is to assess the scale and nature of institutional support in the opinion of farmers engaged in organic farms in the Lublin region (NUTS 2). The following development was established on the basis of surveys conducted on a group of 30 producers of organic food from the Lublin region between the 4th and the 22nd of February 2013. The respondents were asked to assess the level of institutional support offered by the institutions to organic farmers. The highest in the rank were Agricultural Advisory Centres, certification bodies and the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARMA). On the other hand, Local Action Groups, District Offices, Chambers of Agriculture, ecological associations and clusters were ranked as the least helpful to the organic farmers. The farmers expected to receive both financial and non-financial support (marketing, sales promotion).

Cooperation Practices: Survival Strategies, Alternative Movements or Capitalism Re-embedment? (Prácticas cooperativas: ¿estrategias de supervivencia, movimientos alternativos o reincrustación capitalista?)

Cooperation practices are the backbone of human society's social and material reproduction. The neoclassical discourse has attempted to hide the importance of cooperation in social and material reproduction. Nevertheless, human history offers plenty of examples where reciprocity, cooperation and/or solidarity are the core of economic practices.We aim to address these issues through two ethnographic examples. The first case analyzes discourses and practices that emerge in proximity to food provisioning networks composed of consumers' food cooperatives and small organic food producers. The second case examines the path of a financial services cooperative, Coop57. Its financial role in the cooperative and associative arena seeks to stimulate a social transformation where the foundations of the economy (financing, consumption, production and redistribution) connect each other into a network to bring about a more powerful change in the dominant socioeconomic relations. These cooperative practices can be read both: 1) as a place of struggle for life which flourishes at the interstices of capitalist colonization for profit and 2) as an object of a capitalist project of integration of social reproduction in its extended accumulation process.We oppose this perspective to the concept of “diverse economies” and discuss the heuristic value of the idea of hegemonic dispute in everyday life for thinking about these cooperative practices.

Cooperation Practices: Survival Strategies, Alternative Movements or Capitalism Re-embedment? (Prácticas cooperativas: ¿estrategias de supervivencia, movimientos alternativos o reincrustación capitalista?)

Cooperation practices are the backbone of human society's social and material reproduction. The neoclassical discourse has attempted to hide the importance of cooperation in social and material reproduction. Nevertheless, human history offers plenty of examples where reciprocity, cooperation and/or solidarity are the core of economic practices.We aim to address these issues through two ethnographic examples. The first case analyzes discourses and practices that emerge in proximity to food provisioning networks composed of consumers' food cooperatives and small organic food producers. The second case examines the path of a financial services cooperative, Coop57. Its financial role in the cooperative and associative arena seeks to stimulate a social transformation where the foundations of the economy (financing, consumption, production and redistribution) connect each other into a network to bring about a more powerful change in the dominant socioeconomic relations. These cooperative practices can be read both: 1) as a place of struggle for life which flourishes at the interstices of capitalist colonization for profit and 2) as an object of a capitalist project of integration of social reproduction in its extended accumulation process.We oppose this perspective to the concept of “diverse economies” and discuss the heuristic value of the idea of hegemonic dispute in everyday life for thinking about these cooperative practices.

Organic Food and the Double Adverse Selection: Ignorance and Social Welfare

The idea that lies beneath organic food production is founded on high quality of ingredients and scrupulously natural processes in order to obtain products more genuine than the “usual” industrial standard food. As a matter of fact, however, the production of organic food can be mimicked by industrial production by means of marketing. Moreover, consumers do not always properly know which the differences between standard and organic food are. Industrial food producers have many incentives to mimic high quality organic production, both in terms of profits and reputation. Here, a model with three firm types is presented: organic food producers, standard food producers setting high price to mimic organic food, and standard food producers setting low price. This model shows that the lack of knowledge generates two sources of adverse selection: the bad purchase made by consumers buying from mimicking firms, and the case of consumers buying standard food consciously, either because of their ignorance or to avoid the risk of the bad purchase. If correct knowledge were available, the resulting outcome would change dramatically: it is shown that after a policy oriented to disseminate education and awareness, a net increase in social welfare occurs, since consumers’ gain is greater than mimicking firms’ loss.

Organic Food Consumers Purchase Patterns – Insights from Croatian Market

Organic agriculture is a holistic production system, which sustains the natural soil activity, ecosystem and people. The new system is a reaction of producers of organic food to unsustainability of capital intensive agriculture. Organic food market develops progressively because of consumers’ increased interest in nutrition, health and environment protection, with the European market for organic food being the biggest market for organic food worldwide. Organic food market in Croatia is in the phase of rapid development with characteristics of mature markets. Taking into account the offer of organic food in Croatian big box retailers, the market is definitely between the growing and the developed market. Theoretical part of the paper will sum up findings about characteristics of organic food consumers and address their buying behaviour, motives for organic food purchase and perception about organic food compared to conventional food. Research results show existence of significant relationship between organic food purchase according to the region, education level, place of residence, financial status, personal monthly income and monthly household income. Further on, insights from organic food purchase patterns from Croatian market show that frequent organic food consumers consider organic food tastier and healthier than conventional, and consider that organic food with the eco-label is safer for consumption than the food without the eco-label. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n11p472

Opportunities for small and medium enterprises in the innovation and marketing of organic food: investigating consumers’ purchase behaviour of organic food products in Victoria, Australia

This research study investigates Victorian consumers' understanding, awareness and perceptions of organic food products. Analysis of the quantitative data revealed that there are three major segments of consumers, i.e., pro-organics, reluctant consumers and organic sceptics. The buying and usage pattern of these segments has been identified as also their demographic profile. The findings of this study are strategically important for small and medium size organic food producers. They would be better able to practise and implement differentiation strategies for the three identified segments of customers, thus allowing their marketing teams to emphasise the beneficial attributes of organic food products.

Between Ideals and Reality: Development and Implementation of Fairness Standards in the Organic Food Sector

The organic sector is in an ongoing, but somewhat ambiguous, process of differentiation. Continuing growth has also entailed intensified competition and the emergence of conventional structures within the sector. Producers are under pressure to adapt their terms of production to these developments, bearing the risk that the original values and principles of organic farming may become irrelevant. To confront these tendencies and maintain their position on the market, organic producers and processors have launched a number of organic–fair initiatives. As some consumers attach importance to ethical aspects of consumption, these actors sense market opportunities in such quality differentiation. This article presents results of a study on current organic–fair criteria, as formulated by such initiatives. All of them define standards of distributive, procedural and informational fairness, with fair prices for producers and processors and long-term agreements being core standards. We show that distributive and procedural fairness are closely linked. Although organic–fair initiatives and their main protagonists focus on external fairness, such as fair prices for farmers, thus far internal concerns, such as minimum wages or employee involvement, are of less importance. The initiatives exemplify the differentiation of quality-oriented organic food producers in highly competitive markets. They have the potential to revitalise the original values of the sector and contribute significantly to ethical standardization therein. In order to make a substantial contribution to future development of the sector, a critical examination of aspects of internal fairness as well as the formulation of appropriate standards in this field is recommended.

Use of Organic Seeds in Selected Organic Farms in the Area of Lublin (Eastern Poland)

In 1990, organic farming in Poland started with only 27 farms. The number of organic farmsincreased more than double by 2000. Since then, organic land increased more than tenfold. In 2009,there were already nearly 17,423 organic food producers and 277 processors, i.e. over 367,000 hectaresof agricultural land were managed organically, which constituted 2.28% of the country’s totalagricultural land. Twenty farms, out of over 2090, producing organic food were selected in the area ofLublin (Eastern Poland). They were given the questionnaire about using the organic seeds in theirproduction in the season 2010-2011. Eight-five percent of the farmers used organic seeds in theirorganic food production, however, only 35% of them used organic seeds exclusively, although threefourth of them claimed that it was right to use them. Over half of the farmers used home-saved seeds intheir organic food production or exchanged them with other organic farmers. Only one third of thefarmers bought organic seeds from the seed companies. All the farmers, who used organic seeds,thought the quality of the seeds was good. Still, less than one third of them thought that the tolerance todiseases and pests of the cultivars used for organic production was good. Eighty percent of the seedsused for organic food production had no treatment. Modern organic ways of farming were used only by25% of the surveyed farmers.

Development process of organic and local food breakfasts

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the development process of two organic and local food breakfasts to be served in a small and independent coffee shop in Finland.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is established concerning corporate social responsibility (CSR) and new product development process. Previous research related to organic food, local food, and breakfasts is introduced. Action research is applied.FindingsTwo organic and local food breakfasts were developed as a process and sold during eight months in the case coffee shop. The process comprised nine stages. The components for the two breakfasts were received from nine suppliers.Practical implicationsThe practical implications on the case coffee shop are that the customers' requests on organic and local food breakfasts were met; the coffee shop improved its sales and profits; and the service concept was moved into a more sustainable direction. The implications on the local society are that the sales of organic and local food producers increased and their employment improved.Originality/valueTwo organic and local food breakfasts were developed based on the product development process. The developed breakfasts can be used as a reference model in coffee shops, in restaurants, and in teaching.

A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Framework Tool for the Selection of Farm Business Models on Organic Mountain Farms

Mountain regions are important producers of organic food. For them, reliable decision making regarding business planning necessitates different critical support methods. KARSIM 1.0 (DSM) is a methodology based on an integrated deterministic simulation system application for decision-making support, consisting of 74 deterministic production simulation models. DSM enables different types of cost and financial feasibility calculations for organic production and food processing. KARSIM 1.0 was used to simulate three specific business alternatives for mountain organic farms. (Alternative 1: spelt grain, fruit cider, wine and brandy, plum brandy, calves meat and sheep–soft cheese production, Alternative 2: spelt flour, pear and apple juice, plum brandy, veal and sheep's milk, Alternative 3: spelt grain, dried fruit, calves, soft and hard sheep cheese). Simulation model results were compared using two multi-objective analysis methods: the analytical hierarchical process (Expert Choice Decision Support System software) and DEX-i method. The results showed the highest multi-objective decision evaluation for alternative 2 (Expert Choice = 0.361 and DEX-i evaluation = excellent). We can conclude that the combination of a deterministic cost simulation model and multi-criteria decision analysis presents an acceptable decision support tool for mountain organic farms; however, further research is desirable.

What Motivates Consumers to Buy Organic Food: Comparison of Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Slovenia

Knowing consumers' wishes is an important condition for making an efficient sales concept. The goal of this article is to determine the consumer attitudes about organic food, their buying motives, and satisfaction with the offer of organic food products in the markets of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Slovenia. Comparing data collected for three countries will give insight into common and specific characteristics of these markets. Data were collected using consumer survey of organic food in three capitals (Sarajevo, Zagreb and Ljubljana). Respondents in all three countries have a positive attitude toward organic food. The most important motives for buying organic food products in Croatia and Slovenia are the health value of organic food and care for the environment, and in Bosnia Herzegovina it is the idea of return to nature, health value and safety of organic food products. In many characteristics there are no significant differences among consumers in these markets. Similarities among consumers and their geographic vicinity make it possible to create similar marketing strategies for organic food products in these markets. That is especially important for large organic food producers since these are relatively small markets.

Business As Usual? Corporatization and the Changing Role of Social Reproduction in the Organic Agrofood Sector1

Lisa F. Clark’s article is concerned with the evolution of organic food production, particularly in Canada and the United States, where large agro-industrial corporations are becoming a major presence in what was once a niche market dominated by small producers. Their products, she argues, are organic only in the sense that they are produced without direct chemical inputs; the broader historic concerns of organic food producers with specific marketing and production relations and their broader ecological commitments are being left behind as this sector is further incorporated into the global capitalist economy.

‘Good Farmers’ as Reflexive Producers: an Examination of Family Organic Farmers in the US Midwest

AbstractIn the wake of an explosion in the organic food sector, it is vital to differentiate, not only between conventional and organic producers, but between types of organic producers. By exploring a network of family organic farmers in the US Midwest through participant observation and interviews we can better understand the inherent overlap between the categorisations of producer and consumer through the lenses of identity and the reflexive producer. By studying a small network of organic food producers, I illustrate the emergence of a small, but important category of reflexive producers that shed light on the alternative ideology and actions of family organic farmers concerned with protecting the environment and the health of their customers and people in general. Furthermore, reflexive farmers illustrate the moral care associated with good farming.

Cultivating Carrots and Community: Local Organic Food and Sustainable Consumption

This paper examines the social implications of sustainable consumption through an empirical study of a local organic food initiative. It sets out an analytical framework based upon Douglas's Cultural Theory to categorise the range of competing value perspectives on sustainable consumption into ‘hierarchical', ‘individualistic’ and ‘egalitarian’ worldviews, and considers how these various worldviews might each adopt locally-grown organic food as a sustainable consumption initiative. Tensions between the paradigms are evident when attention is turned to a case study of a local organic food producers’ cooperative. Research with both producers and consumers reveals that the values embedded in its practice are both partisan and pluralistic, but are principally ‘Egalitarian'. Its interactions with policy regimes and social and economic institutions are examined, to illustrate the value conflicts inherent, and understand the barriers it faces in operation and the institutional factors inhibiting the growth of grassroots ‘bottom-up’ sustainable food initiatives of this kind. In addition to addressing these barriers, the policy implications of these findings for sustainable consumption policy and practice are discussed.

Cultivating Carrots and Community: Local Organic Food and Sustainable Consumption

This paper examines the social implications of sustainable consumption through an empirical study of a local organic food initiative. It sets out an analytical framework based upon Douglas's Cultural Theory to categorise the range of competing value perspectives on sustainable consumption into ‘hierarchical', ‘individualistic’ and ‘egalitarian’ worldviews, and considers how these various worldviews might each adopt locally-grown organic food as a sustainable consumption initiative. Tensions between the paradigms are evident when attention is turned to a case study of a local organic food producers’ cooperative. Research with both producers and consumers reveals that the values embedded in its practice are both partisan and pluralistic, but are principally ‘Egalitarian'. Its interactions with policy regimes and social and economic institutions are examined, to illustrate the value conflicts inherent, and understand the barriers it faces in operation and the institutional factors inhibiting the growth of grassroots ‘bottom-up’ sustainable food initiatives of this kind. In addition to addressing these barriers, the policy implications of these findings for sustainable consumption policy and practice are discussed.

Food system orientation and quality perception among consumers and producers of organic food in Hedmark County, Norway

To explore the potentials of organic agriculture, it is important to know how consumers, as well as producers, relate to food quality and food system issues. A consumer survey from the Hamar region in Southern Norway provided information on a number of these issues, and a rapid food system appraisal and a seminar revealed concerns among organic farmers in the region. Multivariate analyses showed that traditional food quality aspects such as freshness and taste, called “observation traits,” were important to all consumers. In addition, those who purchased organic foods were more concerned about ethical, environmental, and health issues, called “reflection traits”. Three consumer orientations in the food market were identified. Consumers with a “practical” orientation were less likely, and those with a “local” orientation in the food market were more likely, to buy organic food, while “social” considerations were equally important to all. The results indicate that many interests of organic farmers coincide with concerns among those who buy organic food, and that these are more complex than the formal rules for organic agriculture. This may provide a basis for identifying common goals and improving communication and cooperation between consumers and producers in order to further develop the organic food system. [Note that organic agriculture is called “ecological agriculture” in the Nordic Region.]