Organic foods: the opinion of consumers of a municipality in southwestern Paraná

Abstract

The present study searched to know the opinion of consumers of a small city in the southwest region of Paraná in relation of organic foods, trying to identify factors that may interfere in purchase and consumption. It was used for data collection a questionnaire prepared for this purpose from other studies already carried out and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Most of the participants were adult (86%; n = 327), female (77%; n = 294), lived in the urban area of the municipality (80%; n = 308) and their educational level was concentrated on higher education (42%; n = 159). As for knowledge about organic foods, 96% (n = 368) reported that know about these foods and the most important criterion for their acquisition that it is good for health (55%; n = 211). On the other hand, stood out the existence of some places to purchase them (64%; n = 245), thus prevailing the low consumption by the group (53%; n = 205). Most of people answered that trust a lot in universities (76%; n = 291) and nutritionists (77%; n = 294) as a reference on the topic and over thirty per cent do not trust in media as agent makers of opinion (39%; n = 149). The main factor that interferes in purchase and consumption of organics is the lack of places to sale, which restrict the access to the population.