Estimating the demand for organic foods by consumers at farmers' markets in Northwest Arkansas.

摘要

To answer the question, 'How interested in buying organic foods are the majority of the current shoppers at our farmers' market?', >300 consumers at 3 diverse farmers' market locations in Arkansas, USA, were surveyed for their organic food purchasing habits. Comparisons were made between purchasers who were new to purchasing organic foods and purchasers who had been buying organic foods for many yrs. Analysis showed that a majority of respondents (74%) were frequent purchasers of organic foods, buying once or twice a month, and a significant percentage (44%) of those had been purchasing organic foods for >=7 yrs. Opportunities exist to expand organic sales at these farmers' markets in Arkansas, where only 42% purchased most of their organic foods and 80% surveyed answered 'yes' that they would buy more organic if its price was similar to that of conventional foods.