Consumer preferences for different honey varieties in the North West region of Romania

The objectives of the study on the perceptions of different honey varieties produced in Transylvania originate in the assumption that in the region under study there is a great diversity of honey varieties, but there are not significantly promoted so that they are known and purchased by consumers. The research was conducted using the sociological survey and a number of 1449 questionnaires was applied, both in urban and rural areas. The results show that the most popular honey among consumers in the North West Region is the acacia honey, followed by polyfloral honey and linden honey. The least purchased varieties (and hence less consumed) are honeydew and calluna vulgaris honey. A deeper analysis of the most purchased types of honey leads to the following conclusion: honey is bought by persons with higher education or by those with high occupational status, and also by the median age category (26-50 years old). The quantitative results of the study were completed by a sensory analysis based on the use of the certain varieties of honey (acacia, linden, sunflower, honeydew and mountain flowers). The results show that the more rare varieties (honeydew and mountain flowers) are actually very pleasant for consumers, but are little known

The Common Agricultural Policy and productivity gains in Romanian agriculture: is there any evidence of convergence to the Western European realities?

When Romania joined the European Union (EU) in 2007, it did so with significant structural drawbacks. This paper investigates, in this context, the influence of the considerable levels of financial support given under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the overall productivity of Romanian agriculture. Using data for a 15-year time horizon (1998-2013), we show that the policy incentives have not yet produced any positive effects on the Total Factor Productivity index. Moreover, the increases in the input index remain higher than the output index, reducing the overall productivity of Romanian agriculture. This is explained by a low share of high value-added products in the total agricultural production and agricultural structures that are not yet compatible with those of Western Europe. The new CAP financial allocation must correct these negative findings by supporting new investments in the food processing industry and the better marketing of agricultural products