This diploma thesis inquires into organic box distribution analysis. The main purpose of this thesis is to look more closely at organic box schemes and consumer behaviour related to organic boxes. First part focuses on organic farming and particular types of distribution channels used in organic farming. Second part identifies chosen organic box schemes and their members, such as farmers and co-operatives. These members as well as consumers were interviewed on a specific questionnaire-basis. All gathered data were later evaluated and synthesized. According to those, working hypotheses were assessed. At the end of this thesis, it was established that the supply of organic box schemes (farmers, co-operatives) meets its particular demand (consumers of organic food).

Background: With the development of organic food market, the marketers are required to investigate how to satisfy their customer in order to gain more profit and competitive advantages in the market. The investigation of customer satisfaction helps the researchers know the requirement of customer. Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to explain what factors affect customer satisfaction towards organic food. Methodology: The quantitative approach had been applied in this study. All the data was collected through self-completion questionnaire while SPSS has been used to analyze the data. Findings: The results indicated that price, taste and freshness can affect the customer satisfaction towards organic food while the food safety will not lead to the influence of customer satisfaction in this research

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Food choices become more meaningful when it is taken into account that they are directly related to health. Likewise, these decisions already reflect aspects regarding environmental correction and it has been demonstrated a growing interest in the ecological responsibility behind consumed food. Organic food is considered healthy and environmentally friendly, then becoming relevant the investigation about these two constructs associated to the shopping intention of consumers. This study sought to investigate how the aspects related to the environmental awareness and the pursuing of health influence the shopping attitudes and intentions of organic food consumers in Cearà market. To this end, it was applied a survey research type and an integrated model was tested by means of the technique known as structural equation modeling (SEM) in order to observe the relations between the constructs concerning the environment, the health and the theory of planned behavior, which analyze the attitudes and intentions of consumers. The results indicate that there is a positive influence of the motivations related to health on the attitudes towards organics, the same occurring to these attitudes on the shopping intentions related to that type of food. Furthermore, it was observed that the aspects regarding environmental concerns do not influence the shopping intentions of organics in market under research. From a managerial point of view, the contributions from this study reside in the comprehension of the determining variables of the shopping behavior of an ascending market, what suggests basis to the development of strategies, by the agents of the productive chain, adequate to the analyzed market. / As escolhas alimentares tornam-se mais significativas quando se leva em conta que estÃo diretamente ligadas à saÃde. De maneira similar, essas decisÃes jà refletem tambÃm aspectos de correÃÃo ambiental e tem-se demonstrado um crescente interesse na responsabilidade ecolÃgica por trÃs dos alimentos consumidos. Os alimentos orgÃnicos sÃo propagados como alimentos saudÃveis e ecologicamente corretos, e tornou-se relevante investigar esses dois construtos associados Ãs intenÃÃes de compra de consumidores. Este estudo buscou investigar de que maneira os aspectos relativos à consciÃncia ambiental e à busca por saÃde influenciam as atitudes e intenÃÃes de compra do consumidor de alimentos orgÃnicos no mercado cearense. Para tal fim, empreendeu-se uma pesquisa do tipo survey e testou-se por intermÃdio da tÃcnica de modelagem de equaÃÃes estruturais (MEE) um modelo integrado no intuito de verificar as relaÃÃes entre os construtos relativos ao meio ambiente, à saÃde e à teoria do comportamento planejado, que analisa as atitudes e intenÃÃes dos consumidores. Os resultados indicam haver uma influÃncia positiva das motivaÃÃes ligadas à saÃde sobre as atitudes em relaÃÃo aos orgÃnicos, e destas nas intenÃÃes de compra desses alimentos. Verificou-se ainda que os aspectos ligados à preocupaÃÃo ambiental nÃo influenciam as intenÃÃes de compra de orgÃnicos no mercado pesquisado. Do ponto de vista gerencial, as contribuiÃÃes deste estudo residem na compreensÃo das variÃveis determinantes do comportamento de compra de um mercado em ascensÃo, o que sugere bases para o desenvolvimento de estratÃgias, por parte dos agentes da cadeia produtiva, adequadas ao mercado analisado.

Objetivo: O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar os efeitos dos cultivos orgânico e convencional sobre as características físico-químicas, o teor de compostos antioxidantes, a atividade antioxidante e os resíduos de pesticidas de tomates cultivar Carmem. Considerando-se que o preparo doméstico de alimentos exerce efeitos expressivos sobre o nível de nutrientes em relação ao alimento in natura, particularmente no que tange ao teor de compostos antioxidantes e, conseqüentemente, na atividade antioxidante destes compostos, verificou-se também a influência de diversas formas de preparo doméstico para o consumo de tomates. Métodos: Os tomates foram submetidos aos seguintes tratamentos: inteiro, sem pele, sem semente, molho e purê de tomate. As amostras foram avaliadas físico-quimicamente quanto à atividade de água, sólidos solúveis totais, umidade, pH, cor, teor de ácido ascórbico, de fenólicos totais e de licopeno. As amostras foram liofilizadas e, posteriormente, submetidas ao processo de extração seqüencial para frutos, dando origem aos extratos etéreo, etanólico e aquoso. Aos extratos foram aplicados o teste do 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) e o sistema beta-caroteno/ácido linoléico para avaliação da atividade antioxidante in vitro. As amostras foram ainda submetidas à análise multirresíduos de pesticidas. Para análise estatística dos resultados utilizou-se análise univariada e o teste de Tukey, adotando-se um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: O tomate orgânico inteiro e o molho apresentaram teores médios de ácido ascórbico maiores que seus similares convencionais. O tomate orgânico apresentou teor médio de fenólicos maior que o tomate convencional, para todos os produtos e preparações. Não foi possível identificar diferença entre orgânicos e convencionais quanto ao teor de licopeno, para todas as preparações e produtos avaliados. Para o extrato etéreo pelo método DPPH, verificou-se que apenas para o tomate sem semente, o orgânico apresentou atividade antioxidante maior que o convencional. Para o extrato alcoólico pelo método DPPH, apenas para o tomate sem semente não foram observadas diferenças entre orgânico e convencional. Para as demais preparações e produtos, o tomate orgânico apresentou percentual maior de atividade antioxidante que o convencional. No caso do extrato aquoso, apenas o tomate inteiro e o molho orgânico e convencional não apresentaram diferenças, para os demais modos de preparo (sem pele, sem semente e purê) o tomate orgânico apresentou percentual médio de atividade antioxidante maior que o tomate convencional. Para o extrato etéreo pelo sistema beta-caroteno/ácido linoléico, quando se comparou cultivo orgânico e convencional, observou-se que a atividade antioxidante do molho convencional foi maior que do molho orgânico. No entanto, para os tomates sem pele e sem semente, o orgânico apresentou valores médios significativamente maiores que aqueles obtidos para o tomate convencional. Para o extrato alcoólico pelo sistema beta-caroteno/ácido linoléico, não foram encontradas diferenças quando se compararam as preparações e os produtos provenientes do cultivo orgânico e convencional. No caso do extrato aquoso, o tomate orgânico apresentou maior média de atividade antioxidante para todos os modos de preparo, exceto para o molho. A forma de cultivo foi um fator determinante em relação à presença de resíduos de pesticidas (permetrina, tebuconazol e ditiocarbamatos), uma vez que o tomate orgânico preparado de diversas formas não apresentou tais resíduos. Conclusões: Devido ao limitado tamanho da amostra, nenhuma generalização pode ser estabelecida em relação ao tipo de cultivo e o valor nutricional dos tomates. No entanto, a partir dos resultados dos lotes de tomate avaliados, para a maioria dos parâmetros adotados, pode-se observar superioridade para o tomate orgânico em relação ao convencional. / Objective: The main objective of this survey was to compare the cultivation effect (organic and conventional) over the physical-chemical characteristics, the content of antioxidant compounds and the antioxidant activity of tomatoes Carmen cultivar. Considering that home preparation of the food may be a significant effect over the level of nutrients in relation to a fresh food, particularly in the content of antioxidants and, consequently, in the antioxidant activity of these compounds, the influence of many ways of home prepare of tomatoes was verified. Methods: Tomatoes underwent the following treatments: whole fresh tomatoes, fresh tomatoes without the peel, fresh tomatoes without seeds, tomato sauce and tomato puree. Samples were physical-chemically analyzed for water activity, total soluble solids, water content, pH, color, ascorbic acid, total phenolics and lycopene. Samples were freeze-dried, and then underwent the sequential extraction process for fruits, resulting in ether, alcohol and water extracts. These extracts were tested by DPPH test and the beta-carotene/linoleic acid system in order to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Samples were also submitted to pesticide multi residue analysis. For the statistical analyses, ANOVA and the Tukey test were used considering a significance level of 5%. Results: The whole organic tomato and the organic sauce presented higher acid ascorbic content than their conventional counterparts. The organic tomato exhibited higher phenolics content than the conventional for all products and preparations. It was not possible to detect differences between organic and conventional in relation to the lycopene content form all preparations and products. For the ether extracts by the DPPH method, it was verified that only the organic tomato without seeds showed higher antioxidant activity than the conventional one. For the alcohol extract by the DPPH method, only the tomato without seeds not reveal differences between organic and conventional. The remaining organic preparations and products were better than the conventional. In the case of the water extract, only the whole tomato and the sauce did not show differences between the organic and the conventional, whereas the other preparations of the organic tomato exhibited higher antioxidant activity than those of the conventional tomato. For the ether extract in the beta-carotene/linoleic acid system it was verified that the conventional sauce was better than the organic one. However, the organic tomatoes without peel and seeds exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the conventional ones. For the alcohol extract in the beta-carotene/linoleic acid system no difference was detected between the organic and conventional tomato preparations and products. In the case of the water extract, the organic tomato afforded higher antioxidant activity for all types of preparations, except for the sauce. The method of cultivation was a determinant factor in relation to the presence of pesticides residues, since the organic tomato prepared in different forms did not contain these residues (permethrin, tebuconazol and dithiocarbamate). Conclusions: Due the limited size of the sample, no general statement could be made in relation to the method of cultivation and the nutritive value of tomatoes. However, for most of the parameter studied, the organically grown tomatoes ranked higher than the conventional tomatoes.

Atualmente existe uma crescente parcela da população mundial despertando para o consumo de alimentos orgânicos, sendo comumente relacionado a padrões de consumo saudáveis e ambientalmente responsáveis. No âmbito de estudos comportamentais, pouco se conhece sobre o consumidor de alimentos orgânicos brasileiro, especialmente em se tratando dos valores pessoais e das atitudes que estão por trás deste consumo. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho buscou propor a segmentação dos consumidores de alimentos orgânicos da cidade de Porto Alegre, a partir de seus valores pessoais. Além disso, também se procurou: (a)identificar valores pessoais e atitudes que permeiam o comportamento desses consumidores; (b)verificar similaridades/diferenças entre consumidores de supermercados e de feiras; (c)explorar os fatores motivacionais de compra de alimentos orgânicos; e (d) analisar o perfil dos grupos de consumidores de alimentos orgânicos, definindo cada um de acordo com seus valores pessoais, suas atitudes, seu comportamento de compra e suas características sociodemográficas. O presente estudo foi realizado por meio de três fases integradas e complementares: a primeira foi destinada à exploração da temática de alimentos orgânicos; a segunda etapa foi de ordem quantitativa, realizada através de uma survey com consumidores de alimentos orgânicos de supermercados e feiras; por fim, a última etapa foi de abordagem qualitativa, por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com consumidores de orgânicos. No geral, os consumidores demonstraram apreço pela preservação ambiental e transcendência de interesses egoístas, prezando por ações destinadas ao benefício coletivo, refletidos nos valores Universalismo e Benevolência. A análise de cluster fez emergir quatro grupos de consumidores de alimentos orgânicos com características diferenciadas em termos de valores pessoais. O Cluster 1 é identificado principalmente pelos valores mais voltados à preocupação social (Benevolência) e segurança à vida pessoal (Segurança). O Cluster 2, preocupa-se também com sua segurança pessoal (Segurança), mas possui uma tendência forte ao pensamento e ação independente (Autodeterminação). Já o Cluster 3 se caracteriza por valorizar muito sua segurança pessoal (Segurança) e também por prezar pelo bem-estar de todas as pessoas e da natureza (Universalismo). O Cluster 4 expressa conforto com a diversidade da existência, com forte tendência à preservação da natureza (Universalismo) e confiança em seu próprio julgamento (Autodeterminação). Os resultados deste trabalho demonstraram também que, no geral, o consumo de alimentos orgânicos está fortemente atrelado a considerações sociais e ecológicas. Assim, este trabalho avança no conhecimento a respeito das bases motivacionais do comportamento de consumo de alimentos orgânicos, especialmente no que diz respeito aos valores pessoais que guiam as decisões e ações destes consumidores. / Currently there is a growing portion of the population waking up to the consumption of organic foods, being commonly related to consumption patterns of healthy and environmentally responsible. Within behavioral studies, little is known about the organic food consumer in Brazil, especially about personal values and attitudes that lie behind this consumption. In this sense, the present work aimed to propose the segmentation of organic food consumers in the city of Porto Alegre, from their personal values. In addition, we sought to: (a) identify personal values and attitudes that underlie the behavior of these consumers, (b) determine similarities / differences between consumers of supermarkets and specialized fairs; (c) explore the motivating factors for buying organic food; and (d) analyze the profile of groups of organic food consumers, setting each one according to their personal values, their attitudes, their buying behavior and sociodemographic characteristics. This study was conducted through three integrated and complementary phases: the first was aimed at exploring the theme of organic food, the second step was quantitative, conducted through a survey with organic food consumers of supermarkets and specialized fairs, and, finally, the last step was a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with consumers of organic products. Overall, consumers have demonstrated appreciation for environmental preservation and transcendence of selfish interests, unpretentiously actions aimed at collective benefit, reflected in the values Universalism and Benevolence. At the cluster analysis, four groups of organic food consumers emerged with different characteristics in terms of personal values. Cluster 1 is identified mainly by values more focused on social concerns (Benevolence) and personal security (Security). Cluster 2 is also concerned with their personal security (Security), but has a strong tendency to independent thinking and action (Self-Direction). Cluster 3 is characterized by strongly appreciating personal security (Security) and also the well-being of all people and nature (Universalism). Cluster 4 expressed comfort with the diversity of life, with a strong tendency to the preservation of nature (Universalism) and trust in his own judgment (Self-Direction). The results of this study also showed consumption of organic food is strongly linked to social and ecological considerations. This study advances knowledge about the motivational bases of the behavior of organic food consumption, especially with regard to the personal values that guide decisions and actions of these consumers.

The growing South African domestic organic food industry is a new feature of the recent structural shifts in food demand in the country. Consumer demand preferences for organic food impact on agricultural production methods due to the unintended positive consequences of improved soil fertilisation, increased productivity and increased use of indigenous knowledge. Understanding consumer demand for food, specifically organic food, in South Africa is becoming increasingly important as consumers’ attitudes and preferences strongly influence the direction of food retailers’ strategies. This study used a single bound dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (CVM) to analyse the determinants of organic food in SA, specifically organic fruit juice and wine. Data was collected from a CVM questionnaire administered to 550 respondents in a food retail store over 3 days. Findings from this study indicate consumers believe organic food is more nutritious and tastier than conventional food, organic agriculture benefits both small-scale and local farmers and that consumers require a guarantee of the organic origin of organic products. Emphasising these benefits and directly referring to the small-scale and local farmers from whom organic products have been procured in advertisement campaigns may improve retail marketing strategies for organic food. It also highlights that South African policy makers urgently have to finalise the promulgation of the draft legislation on organic standards to provide certainty to local consumers and hence a positive signal to current and prospective investors in the local organic industry. Empirical results from this study show that socio-demographic factors do influence consumer demand and supports the need for disaggregated food demand analysis in South Africa. Socio-demographic factors do influence South African consumers’ decision to purchase organic food and younger age increases the probability of the decision to purchase organic food; whereas being married and being in possession of non-formal training qualifications decreases this probability. Organic consumer awareness and education programmes should therefore be targeted at older, unmarried consumers with high levels of formal education. The domestic market may provide a niche for South African wine producers as this study showed that the majority of respondents interviewed are prepared to pay higher premiums for organic wine. A limitation of this study is that these results may reflect consumers’ demand for wine as a luxury good as no separate analysis and questions were included on consumer demand for wine. Policy makers should support small-scale producers and black vintners in the Western Cape to exploit growing organic wine industry by conducting further research for a organic wine marketing campaign that brands organic wine highlighting procurement from small-scale producers, local farmers and positive contribution to environment, providing extension services to small-scale producers on organic wine production, investing in research and development in organic wine production facilitating mentorship between small-scale farmers and existing organic wine producers and lobbying national department of agriculture to finalise the draft South African organic standard given that South African consumers require guarantee of organic origin. Agents in the private sector may exploit opportunities in the organic wine industry by targeting consumers that are younger and old age of Christian faith, lobby the South African government to finalise the draft organic standard, highlight attitudes that organic wine contribute positively to the environment, local and small-scale farmers in organic wine marketing campaigns and procure more organic wine from small-scale and local organic wine producers. Local and small-scale fruit producers and fruit processors in the Western Cape are well positioned to exploit growth forecasted in the domestic organic fruit juice sector given its global reputation for producing high quality fruit, proven manufacturing capabilities and expertise in fruit juice production. Both younger and older age positively influences willingness to pay for organic fruit juice but younger consumers are willing to pay higher prices than older consumers for organic fruit juice. Consumers that are the head of households, by being in the position of food purchaser, are also willing to pay higher prices for organic fruit juice. Afrikaans speaking consumers, 77 percent belonging to the coloured population group of which 69 percent earn less than an average monthly income of R3500 are less likely to pay higher prices for organic fruit juice due to lower disposal incomes. South African citizens that represent almost 90 percent of the Western Cape population are concerned about environmental issues confirmed by beliefs that organic food contributes to the environment, small-scale and local farmers. This concern is expressed in the higher prices that South African citizens are willing to pay for organic fruit juice. These empirical findings indicate the target consumers that organic fruit juice marketing campaigns should focus on. Specific policy interventions to promote the industry include public investment in research and development in organic production methods, extension service provision on organic production methods to small-scale farmers and development of mentorship programmes between existing small-scale and existing organic producers. Copyright / Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

The purpose of the thesis is a description of organic food and ecological farming in general. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with findings consumer and shopping behavior of consumers of organic food. The practical part contains a marketing research of organic food in the Czech Republic, which focuses on the findings of opinions, attitudes and motivations of consumers to purchase organic food.

The master thesis named "Analysis of purchasing behaviour on the organic food market" deals with relationship of customers towards organic food. There are theorecital aspects of customer's decision analyzed as well as specifics of the organic food market in the Czech Republic. The thesis includes results of marketing research regarding general awareness of organic food and related purchasing conventions, which has been processed based on theoretical knowledges. There is a proposal of marketing suggestions for economic subjects which act at the organic food market, made at the end of the thesis.

A busca por alimentos provenientes de sistemas de produção sustentáveis, como por exemplo, os métodos orgânicos de produção é uma tendência que vem se fortalecendo mundialmente. Mudanças nos hábitos alimentares têm sido observadas, revelando a complexidade dos modelos de consumo e de seus fatores determinantes. Sendo assim, este estudo teve por objetivo descrever a disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos orgânicos no Brasil. Utilizou-se como base de dados informações contidas na Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF 2008- 2009), realizada pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) sobre aquisições de alimentos e bebidas orgânicos. Os resultados revelam comportamentos distintos na aquisição de alimentos orgânicos entre os brasileiros, quando são discriminados de acordo com as regiões e situação do domicílio (urbano ou rural). Os valores de disponibilidade (média) domiciliar foram superiores entre as famílias residentes nas áreas rurais, notadamente entre as regiões Sul e Centro- Oeste. Nota-se a relação existente entre as condições socioculturais que privilegia a perspectiva ligada à renda, havendo tendência de aumento sistemático de alimentos orgânicos, conforme ocorre crescimento dos rendimentos. Os resultados revelam ainda que quanto menor o número de moradores por domicílio, independente da região, maior a disponibilidade alimentar de orgânicos. Em relação aos grupos alimentares, merece destaque a maior participação do grupo dos laticínios, principalmente entre as famílias residentes nas áreas rurais. Os dados relativos à disponibilidade per capita de energia e participação dos macronutrientes e micronutrientes oriunda dos alimentos orgânicos no Valor Energético Total - VET revelou reduzida contribuição para a totalidade das regiões brasileiras. Quanto às características sociodemográficas das famílias, verifica-se que com o aumento da renda registra-se crescimento na disponibilidade de orgânicos nos domicílios com chefe/responsável do sexo feminino. A maior propensão ao consumo é verificada entre pessoas mais velhas (60 anos ou mais) e com nível de escolaridade superior incompleto. Paralelamente, verificou-se a reduzida quantidade média disponível para a totalidade das famílias brasileiras. / The search for food from sustainable production systems, for example, the organic methods of production, is a trend which rises worldwide. Changes in dietary habits had been observed, showing the complexity of consumption patterns and their corresponding determinant factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to report the household availability of organic food in Brazil. This work was based on information available on Family Budget Research (POF 2008-2009), carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) about food acquisition for household consumption. The results showed distinct behavior regarding organic food acquisition between Brazilians, which are discriminated accordingly with different regions and household situation (rural or urban). The household availability values (mean) was higher between families located in rural regions, remarkably between South and Middle-West regions. It can be observed a relationship between socio-cultural conditions which allows the perspectives related to income, with systematic rising trend of organic food, when income growth occurs. Also, the results suggested that as lower the numbers of dwellers, independent of region, the household availability of organic foods are increased. Regarding the dietary groups, more emphasis was given about the major contribution of dairy group, mainly within family household in rural areas. Data related to per capita availability of energy and contribution of macronutrients and micronutrients derived from organic food on Total Energy Value showed reduced contribution for totality of the Brazilian regions. About the family socio-demographic features, it was observed an increasing income promoted by a rising availability in households which are headed by women. The major consumption propensity was verified between elderly individuals (60 years old or more) and with incomplete higher education. In addition, it was found the reduced average amount available for totality of Brazilian families.

My master thesis is focused on creating a business plan for a company that would sell bio and vegan food. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part serves as a theoretical basis to build the business plan on. The second part is an analysis of competition in the field of interest. The third part uses information gathered in the preceding parts and describes the creation of the business plan itself.