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Investigating the interaction between organic and local foods in the Mediterranean: The Lebanese organic consumer’s perspective

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  • Pugliese, Patrizia
  • Zanasi, Cesare
  • Atallah, Oussama
  • Cosimo, Rota

Abstract

Organic products often interact with local/traditional food; this relationship is particularly relevant for many Mediterranean countries and could play an important role in contrasting the conventionalisation of organic agriculture and differentiating organic products in an increasingly competitive global market. The goal of this study was to investigate the interaction between organic and local/traditional food in Lebanon from the perspective of an organic consumer. The attitude toward both their present interaction and possible developments were investigated. Interviews with 146 consumers were conducted at the farmers market and specialised shops in Beirut, where organic and local/traditional foods (baladi) are sold. The data collected from the questionnaires were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (structural equation model, t-test and ANOVA). The results show that the integration of organic and baladi foods seemed to be accepted largely as a future perspective; recent food scandals made baladi foods less reliable, which has negatively affected the contemporary organic consumer’s attitude toward the relationship between baladi and organic products. The only statistically significant results emerged when this facet of consumer responses was analysed. Younger and wealthier organic food consumers, prone to integrate the more appealing gastronomic characteristics of local/traditional foods in their diet (foodies), seemed relatively more accepting of a joint marketing of organic and baladi foods. The farmers market seemed to play a central role in supporting a positive interaction between organic and baladi foods.

Suggested Citation

  • Pugliese, Patrizia & Zanasi, Cesare & Atallah, Oussama & Cosimo, Rota, 2013. "Investigating the interaction between organic and local foods in the Mediterranean: The Lebanese organic consumer’s perspective," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1-12.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:39:y:2013:i:c:p:1-12
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2012.12.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Jaffee & Philip Howard, 2010. "Corporate cooptation of organic and fair trade standards," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 27(4), pages 387-399, December.
    2. Hatanaka, Maki, 2010. "Certification, Partnership, and Morality in an Organic Shrimp Network: Rethinking Transnational Alternative Agrifood Networks," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 706-716, May.
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    2. Walid Mukahhal & Gumataw Kifle Abebe & Rachel A. Bahn, 2022. "Opportunities and Challenges for Lebanese Horticultural Producers Linked to Corporate Buyers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Charalampia N. Anastasiou & Kiriaki M. Keramitsoglou & Nikos Kalogeras & Maria I. Tsagkaraki & Ioanna Kalatzi & Konstantinos P. Tsagarakis, 2017. "Can the “Euro-Leaf” Logo Affect Consumers’ Willingness-To-Buy and Willingness-To-Pay for Organic Food and Attract Consumers’ Preferences? An Empirical Study in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Murakami, Tomoaki & Nakajima, Shinsaku & Takahashi, Taro & Nishihara, Yukinaga & Imai, Asako & Kikushima, Ryousuke & Sato, Takeshi, 2014. "Spatially Varying Impacts of Farmers Markets on Agricultural Land Use," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170668, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Agnieszka Dudziak & Anna Kocira, 2022. "Preference-Based Determinants of Consumer Choice on the Polish Organic Food Market," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Andreea Barbu & Ștefan-Alexandru Catană & Dana Corina Deselnicu & Lucian-Ionel Cioca & Alexandra Ioanid, 2022. "Factors Influencing Consumer Behavior toward Green Products: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Ki-Hueng Kim & Kwan-Ryul Lee, 2019. "What Are South Korean Consumers’ Concerns When Buying Eco-Friendly Agricultural Products?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Yeh, Ching-Hua & Hartmann, Monika, 2016. "Consumers’ Preference for Sweet Peppers with Different Process Attributes: A Discrete Choice Experiment in Taiwan," 2016 International European Forum (151st EAAE Seminar), February 15-19, 2016, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 244483, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    9. Ricci, Elena Claire & Banterle, Alessandro & Stranieri, Stefanella, 2018. "Trust to Go Green: An Exploration of Consumer Intentions for Eco-friendly Convenience Food," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 54-65.

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