Buying in: the influence of interactions at farmers’ markets

Many consumers are motivated to attend Farmers’ Markets (FMs) because of the opportunity to purchase fresh and local products. The subsequent interactions at FMs provide an important pathway for the direct exchange of information. While previous research suggests that people value local food and the FM shopping experience and that purchasing directly from producers can lead to transformative learning, little is known about exactly how the shopping experience at FMs can influence consumer purchasing behavior. This study examines the extent of and mechanism for such “influencing.” Using data from surveys, observations, and interviews gathered at six FMs, we analyze the interactions between consumers and vendors, including the motivations and values of both parties. We explore the question, “How do farmers’ markets facilitate change in consumer purchasing behavior?” We propose that the dynamic of change in consumer purchasing behavior at FMs takes root in the exchange of information between consumers and vendors during interactions. Our results suggest that there are three specific characteristics shared by FM consumers and vendors that lead to these meaningful interactions at FMs: symmetry of motivations to attend FMs, shared values, and mutual dependence on interactions. Then, when a consumer learns new information from a FM vendor during an interaction, the consumer is more likely to make a change in their immediate purchase. Information about the products for sale and the modes of production of those items can especially impact consumers’ immediate purchases at FMs. We found that FM interactions can also impact long-term purchasing behavior, such as purchasing more organic or locally produced foods. Our results suggest that FM interactions may have significant implications for consumer health, local economies, and the environment.     

中国婴幼儿奶粉市场中的“海淘”现象分析

2008年以来,国产婴幼儿奶粉的质量安全事件频发,国产奶粉的消费者信心十分低迷。从2012年开始,“海淘”作为一种全新的海外购物模式在中国急剧升温,其中,消费者对于婴幼儿奶粉的“海淘”热情最为高涨。基于此,本文对婴幼儿奶粉“海淘”现象的主体、出现的根本原因及带来的消极影响进行了详细的分析,并就如何规范婴幼儿奶粉的“海淘”行为提出了切实可行的政策建议。     

论消费者自主选择权的保护——以数字电视为视角

消费者自主选择权是消费者最为核心的权利之一，消费者自主选择权的正当性基础是平衡正义、消费者的弱者地位及其意思表示不自由。而数字电视提供者滥用其垄断地位以格式合同剥夺了消费者自主选择权，极大冲击了契约自由原则。政府与数字电视提供商利用“公共利益”之名合法化其自身利益，损害消费者的自主选择权。因而，应完善垄断行业消费者权益保护的相关立法、执法及诉讼机制,更好保护消费者自主选择权。     

农产品质量安全消费者满意评价影响因素分析——来自浙江的调查

以2008年三聚氰胺事件为起点,改善消费者满意评价成为政府农产品质量安全管理的重要目标之一。文章构建了农产品质量安全消费者满意评价指标,利用浙江2019年13县1 910份拦截式调查数据,通过两类4个计量模型对比分析了其主要影响因素。研究发现,浙江农产品质量安全消费者满意评价处在较高水平,县级属地管理履职效力在改善农产品质量安全消费者满意评价中起到了核心作用,消费者自身的农产品质量安全认知水平与知晓程度也对其满意评价产生正向影响;来自农贸市场的消费者满意评价要高于来自超市的消费者满意评价,在当地居住时间越长的消费者满意评价更高;年龄越高与受教育水平越高的消费者其满意评价则更加谨慎。因此,我国政府应抓住农产品质量安全舆情改善契机,深入推进农产品质量安全属地管理,提升消费者农产品质量安全认知水平,重点针对年长人群和外来人口在工作宣传方面发挥积极作用。     

Coming in to the foodshed

Bioregionalists have championed the utility of the concept of the watershed as an organizing framework for thought and action directed to understanding and implementing appropriate and respectful human interaction with particular pieces of land. In a creative analogue to the watershed, permaculturist Arthur Getz has recently introduced the term “foodshed” to facilitate critical thought about where our food is coming from and how it is getting to us. We find the “foodshed” to be a particularly rich and evocative metaphor; but it is much more than metaphor. Like its analogue the watershed, the foodshed can serve us as a conceptual and methodological unit of analysis that provides a frame for action as well as thought. Food comes to most of us now through a global food system that is destructive of both natural and social communities. In this article we explore a variety of routes for the conceptual and practical elaboration of the foodshed. While corporations that are the principal beneficiaries of a global food system now dominate the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food, alternatives are emerging that together could form the basis for foodshed development. Just as many farmers are recognizing the social and environmental advantages to sustainable agriculture, so are many consumers coming to appreciate the benefits of fresh and sustainably produced food. Such producers and consumers are being linked through such innovative arrangements as community supported agriculture and farmers markets. Alternative producers, alternative consumers, and alternative small entrepreneurs are rediscovering community and finding common ground in municipal and community food councils. Recognition of one's residence within a foodshed can confer a sense of connection and responsibility to a particular locality. The foodshed can provide a place for us to ground ourselves in the biological and social realities of living on the land and from the land in a place that we can call home, a place to which we are or can become native.     

From “Food from Nowhere” to “Food from Here:” changing producer–consumer relations in Austria

The notion of a “third food regime” implies simultaneous processes of further global concentration and integration and at the same time resistance through new emerging producer–consumer relations. This paper examines these processes by looking at Austria over the last 30 years. While direct producer–consumer cooperatives established at an early point, today forms of community supported agriculture (CSA) are rare. This paper explains this by identifying a shift of the entire food system from “food from nowhere” to “food from here.” The account follows the early emergence of alternative food networks through the political appeal to consumer patriotism in connection with Austria joining the EU, to a sustained positioning of retail chains with regional and national food products. The paper argues that this satisfies the needs of a large proportion of consumers and discourages the emergence of new food initiatives. The paper follows the development of different approaches and their transformations until today. Thus a picture evolves of changing, and partly progressing consumer–producer relations in response to wider societal and political transformation processes. The results explain why the movement towards CSA is currently weak in Austria, but demonstrate at the same time how alternative food networks may contribute to a transformation of the food system.     

景迈山茶祖故事中的历史与族群关系

茶史和茶马古道研究中的一个重要问题,是茶叶出产区与茶叶消费区之间的联系如何建立起来。关于茶叶贸易与茶叶消费的很多历史研究已经涉及这一问题,但较少论及作为茶叶生产者的当地人对茶叶消费者等他人的态度。本文讨论了云南景迈山布朗族和傣族的两种茶祖故事,它们都说本民族/族群的祖先是茶文化的发明者,本民族/族群种茶的历史大约有2000年,但没有讲述与对方民族/族群的关系。本文的研究表明,这两种茶祖故事是最近才产生的,它们之间不仅互相矛盾,而且与其他地方及族群的茶祖故事也不一致,很多内容与已知的历史不符。这些现象显示了这两种茶祖故事是在“以言行事”,通过宣称本民族是茶文化的发明者,来吹捧本地、本民族所产的茶叶。这一行为中隐含了“发明者即最佳者”的观念,凸显了这两个民族/族群之间的市场竞争关系。     

On (not) knowing where your food comes from: meat,mothering and ethical eating

Knowledge is a presumed motivator for changed consumption practices in ethical eating discourse: the consumer learns more about where their food comes from and makes different consumption choices. Despite intuitive appeal, scholars are beginning to illuminate the limits of knowledge-focused praxis for ethical eating. In this paper, we draw from qualitative interviews and focus groups with Toronto mothers to explore the role of knowledge in conceptions of ethical foodwork. While the goal of educating children about their food has become central to Canadian and American discourses of “good” mothering, we identify a paradoxical maternal expectation surrounding meat consumption: (1) to raise informed child consumers who know where their food comes from, and (2) to protect children from the harsh realities of animal slaughter. Rather than revealing the story behind the meat on a child’s plate, mothers seek to shield children from knowledge of meat production. Our analysis of the child consumer contributes to ethical eating scholarship and illuminates a larger paradox surrounding knowledge of meat in an industrialized food system. In the practice of feeding children, mothers confront the visceral discomforts of meat consumption; their reactions speak to discordant feelings involved with eating meat in a setting far-removed from the lives and deaths of animals. Ultimately, the paper illustrates the limits of consumer-focused strategies for food-system change that call on individual mothers to educate young consumers and protect childhood innocence, all while getting ethically-sourced meals on the table.     

农户种植耕地的来源与差异研究--以云南省525户农户为例

基于云南省525户农户的随机问卷调查结果,研究农户种植耕地的来源与差异。结果显示,农户种植耕地绝大部分来源于自家承包地,而只有少部分来源于转入;农户之间的耕地流转活动仍处于较低水平,农户家庭种植面积相对偏小且较为细碎化,应采取措施来促使农户转入耕地。     

葡萄酒消费者行为影响因素研究综述

从个人特征、葡萄酒认知水平、消费动机、产品特征、参照群体、产品涉入水平、传统文化及生活方式等方面对国内外葡萄酒消费者行为影响因素研究成果进行了梳理,指出了我国学者葡萄酒消费者行为研究的方向。结果表明:我国学者对葡萄酒消费者行为影响因素的研究主要以大学生和青年消费者群体为主,对其他消费群体的研究较少;大多是针对某一城市或地区的研究,缺乏地区之间的比较;描述性研究较多,缺乏多因素模型的系统研究。未来研究中,研究人员可以引入我国传统文化及酒文化作为葡萄酒消费者行为的前置影响因素;可以开展固定样本连续调查研究,以探析我国葡萄酒消费者购买行为的动态变化过程,把握其行为变化的内在规律。     

ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES AND CONSUMER PREFERENCE FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BEVERAGE PACKAGING: THE ROLE OF INFORMATION PROVISION AND IDENTITY LABELING IN INFLUENCING CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

● Consumer preference for environmentally-friendly beverage packaging was investigated. ● Consumers are willing to pay a premium for post-consumer recycled materials. ● Environmental information and green identity labels have synergistic effect on consumer willingness to pay. ● Product unit size seems irrelevant in most consumer decisions. This study examined whether urban Chinese consumers with stronger environmental values have higher valuations for plastic beverage bottles that are made of post-consumer recycled material (rPET) or that come in large sizes that use plastic more efficiently. It also assesses the effectiveness of environmental information provision and green identity labeling in increasing consumer willingness to pay for environmentally-friendly packaging. The results suggest that urban Chinese consumers are willing to pay a premium for rPET bottles, indicating that there is a potential market for rPET food and beverage packaging in China that calls for manufacturing guidelines, safety standards, or regulations. Providing environmental information and attaching green identity labels increases consumer valuations of rPET bottles, with their joint use exerting the largest effect. Pro-environmental consumers are more responsive to environmental information and green identity labeling and thus are willing to pay a higher premium for rPET bottles. However, in terms of choosing large bottles as a means to reduce plastic use in product packaging, consumers were found to be indifferent about plastic bottle sizes even after receiving environmental information. It is suggested that the inconvenience of carrying or storing large bottles might have offset their perceived environmental benefits.     

Putting the farmer’s face on food: governance and the producer–consumer relationship in local food systems

Local food systems (LFSs) have grown in popularity around the world in recent years. Their framing often emphasizes the re-connection of producers and consumers against the “faceless” and “placeless” industrial agriculture. However, previous research suggests that such romanticized narratives may not keep up with reality. This relates to the transformative potential of LFSs and to whether they actually generate alternative modes of social organization that challenge problematic aspects of the food system. We place our focus on the practices and narratives that construct the producer/consumer relationship and show how these systems are governed. Our fieldwork was carried out in two LFSs in two distinct settings: community supported agriculture groups in NYC and responsible consumption communities in Catalonia, Spain. Three main types of practices and narratives are identified: sharing, negotiation and utilization practices, and narratives. Our findings reveal great heterogeneity between the two LFSs and show how intermediates participate in the producer/consumer relationship.     

北京市婴幼儿奶粉市场调研

国产奶粉的质量问题引起社会和公众极大关注,国际著名品牌奶粉成为众多奶粉消费者的首选,如何重整消费者对国产奶粉的信心,成为乳品企业和政府有关部门研究的重点。通过问卷调查,研究北京市婴幼儿奶粉的购买和消费情况,以及消费者对婴幼儿奶粉质量关注度和购买影响因素;运用SPSS统计软件,分析国际品牌与国内品牌奶粉的质量差异,表明国内外品牌奶粉在营养成分上并无显著性差异,对此提出提升消费者信心的相关建议:加强质量监控;注重国产奶粉的品牌建设;提高产品差异化,进行市场细分。     

经济危机下农民工自主创业的瓶颈分析

对于当前受经济危机影响的返乡农民工,政府鼓励他们自主创业,但是这项工作受到农民工个人自身素质、农村基础设施、地方政府政策以及农村消费市场等方方面面因素的限制。解决农民工就业问题的根本方法应该是强化政府扩大就业责任、加快实施城乡一体化步伐。     

金融消费者保护问题的框架性思考

金融消费者是为生活消费需要而购买、使用金融商品或接受金融服务的人,具有追求盈利最大化、抗风险能力差以及弱势地位突出等特点。现阶段我国有关金融消费者权益保护方面的工作同发达国家相比还很不完善,存在缺乏专项立法、相关法律滞后、缺乏专业纠纷解决机制以及对金融消费者合法权益保护不到位等问题,急需国家相关部门出台相关政策文件改善和解决。     

营养认知、产品信任与营养型食品的支付意愿

“健康中国”新时代背景下营养型食品发展前景广阔,当前研究中一个亟待回答的问题是营养型食品的优良特性能否以及如何转化为目标消费者的购买意愿。本文以富叶酸玉米为例,基于对302位育龄妇女展开的BDM拍卖实验数据,采用分位数回归模型研究营养认知、产品信任对营养型食品支付意愿的影响机制进行研究。结果表明:第一,育龄妇女对富叶酸玉米的支付意愿均值为6.34元/根,营养属性对玉米的价值提升具有显著作用。第二,对于育龄妇女群体,营养认知和产品信任均对其支付意愿有显著正向影响。第三,实验结果表明支付意愿的形成存在“经验效应”与“信息效应”:中低支付意愿群体购买行为表现为“经验效应”,营养认知对支付意愿的影响易受到替代品效应调节,但高支付意愿群体更多表现为“信息效应”,营养认知的影响不存在替代效应。第四,产品信任对具有当前生育意愿的育龄妇女表现出一致的正向影响,对不具有当前生育意愿的育龄妇女呈现“U”型影响,即对高低两端支付意愿群体影响显著。     

花色苷分子结构与其稳定性以及呈色关系的研究进展*

 综述了花色苷分子化学和空间结构与其稳定性及呈色关系的研究进展。一般,花色苷A,C环羟基化使其稳定性降低,蓝色色调明显增强,但C4或C5羟基化使其较稳定。花色苷甲氧基化、糖基化、酰基化均能不同程度地导致花色苷稳定性增强。分子内共色使花色苷形成“夹心”结构,分子间共色使花色苷产生垂直层叠复合物,另外,花色苷还可发生“自聚”,“吸附”,“晶化”作用,均增强花色苷的稳定性。文章为改良花色苷分子结构以提高花色苷稳定性提供理论依据。     

两种化学型鱼腥草不同生育期净光合速率和蒸腾速率及挥发油化学成分的比较研究

 【目的】 研究两种化学型鱼腥草不同生育期叶片净光合速率和蒸腾速率以及挥发油化学成分的差异。【方法】用便携式光合仪测定自然条件下两种化学型鱼腥草苗期和花期叶片的净光合速率(Pn)和蒸腾速率(Tr)日变化。用水蒸气蒸馏法分别提取挥发油，并用GC-MS法对各化合物进行鉴定，峰面积归一法计算各成分相对含量。LSD多重比较法进行差异显著性检验。【结果】两种化学型鱼腥草Pn日变化苗期均为典型的单峰曲线，而花期呈双峰形；Tr日变化则两个时期均为单峰曲线；且苗期Pn和Tr值均极显著低于花期。两种化学型鱼腥草叶片挥发油所含组分数目苗期普遍比花期多，而共有成分和主要成分总量分别低于花期。M型鱼腥草叶片挥发油所含化学成分种类较D型多，而其挥发油化学成分中共有成分和主要成分总量却较D型低，且该化学型不同材料间在某些主要成分含量上存在极显著差异。【结论】不同化学型鱼腥草在不同生育期的净光合速率和蒸腾速率以及挥发油化学成分上均存在一定程度的差异。而峨眉蕺菜与蕺菜之间，无论在净光合速率和蒸腾速率还是挥发油化学成分方面均无显著差异。     

消费者食品安全性意识与认证食品的支付意愿

利用延吉市消费者的食品安全性意识调查资料,采用一般统计方法测定消费者对食品安全的认知度,估算认证食品的支付意愿（Willingness To Pay,WTP）．结果表明,消费者对食品认证的认知度和信任度都比较低．但通过认证的食品在确实能保证食品质量安全的前提下,消费者对绿色食品的支付意愿为28．8％,GAP认证农产品的支付意愿为18．5％,HACCP认证食品的支付意愿为17．6％,有机食品的支付意愿为17．2％,无公害食品的支付意愿为16．2％．说明消费者对认证食品的支付意愿还是比一般食品要高,消费者即便多支付价格也愿意购买高品质安全食品．因此,建议加强食品安全宣传力度,提高消费者食品安全意识及对认证食品的认知度和接受度．     

2015年农业生产与粮食安全网络舆情特点分析

为准确把握网络媒体和网民对农业生产和粮食安全相关话题的关注情况和舆情传播特点,对2015年国内重要新闻网站、主流商业门户网站、农业行业网站等媒体以及论坛、博客、微博等社交平台和自媒体进行了监测。全年舆情总量较上年明显增加,热度升温;年内舆情走势起伏明显,与农业生产的季节性特点总体吻合;政府网站首发信息的关注度提升,媒体的二次传播产生积极效果;主流媒体具有重要舆论影响力,自媒体中相关话题讨论更趋专业化。2015年农业生产与粮食安全工作中的“绿色增产”成舆论关注新看点,粮食产量“十二连增”被持续聚焦,粮食产销困局成下半年常热话题,“马铃薯主粮化”受到网民热议。