Perceived Risks of Agro-biotechnology and Organic Food Purchase in the United States

This study examined the role of consumers' perceived risks and benefits of agro-biotechnology in shaping the purchase pattern for organic food among US consumers. Consumers' general purchase behavior, knowledge of GM technology, and socio-demographic variables were examined in relation to their impact on organic food purchase. The sample data indicated that less than one fourth of the consumers bought organic products at least sometimes. Only 2% of the consumers bought organic food very often. Perceived risks of agro-biotechnology played a dominant role in influencing organic food purchase decisions. Consumers who were concerned about negative attributes of agro-biotechnology including long-term health and environmental hazards, inequity in the distribution of benefits from the technology, and adverse effects to small and medium farms were the potential organic food consumers. Benefits of agro-biotechnology did not play an important role in shaping the purchase pattern for organic food. Food safety was the most important consideration while making organic food purchase decisions. Importance of food safety while making food purchase decisions and consumers' trust in the ability of grocery stores to supply safe food were other important factors in determining purchase pattern for organic foods. In this study, prices of food products did not play important role in determining purchase pattern for organic foods. Growth in organic food market is largely dependent on continued reinforcement of consumers' belief that organic foods are safer than conventional foodsConsumer/Household Economics,

UNDERSTANDING CONSUMERS' ATTITUDE TOWARD MEAT LABELS AND MEAT CONSUMPTION PATTERN

This paper addressed consumers' attitude toward meat labels and the influence of different aspects of meat labels on beef, poultry and seafood consumption using a national survey data. Nutrition and ingredient information on meat labels were positively related with attitude toward meat labels as well as meat consumption frequency.Consumer/Household Economics,

EFFECT OF GENERIC PROMOTION OF FLOWERS ON THE USE OF RETAIL FLOWER OUTLETS

AIDs demand models are used to test if the generic promotion of fresh-cut flowers influenced the market shares for florists, supermarkets, and other retail outlets. Were the generic efforts outlet neutral? Generic promotions of fresh-cut flowers is shown to be outlet neutral while the brand advertising increased florists' market share.Fresh-cut flowers, generic promotion, AIDs model, Marketing,

SNACK PEANUTS PURCHASE PATTERN: EFFECTS OF NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

This study examines the effect of a meal planner's nutritional awareness, exercise habits, and household socioeconomic characteristics on market participation and frequency of purchase of snack peanuts. Data are from a household survey of 2880 U.S. households collected by Gallup in 1997. Statistical tests showed that a double-hurdle or Cragg model best represented consumers' participation and purchase level decisions in the snack peanut market. The results indicated that meal planner's nutritional considerations while making food purchase decisions had little effect on the participation level decisions, but did affect purchase frequency of snack peanuts. Those household meal planners who were overly concerned about undesirable nutritional factors tended to decrease their purchase of snack peanuts. Promotion of snack peanuts on the basis of nutritional benefits through health professional and media is a useful tool to increase purchase frequency.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,