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Exploring the social value of organic food: a qualitative study in France

Author

Listed:
  • Sandrine Costa

    (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier)

  • Lydia Zepeda

    (Consumer Science Department, School of Human Ecology - University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Lucie Sirieix

    (UMR MOISA - Marchés, Organisations, Institutions et Stratégies d'Acteurs - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier, Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier)

Abstract

he purpose of this paper is to investigate whether organic foods are used to signal social identity, class or status, i.e. if they have social value. Our analysis is based on two sociological approaches: Bourdieu's theory of social reproduction and symbolic interactionism. This paper analyses three research questions: (1) does organic food have social symbolism?; (2) does the social value of organic food depend on the venue where it is obtained?; (3) are other symbols associated with the social value of organic food? To answer these questions, we gather qualitative data from organic food shoppers' perceptions of the social value of organic food, using a qualitative study, with four group interviews in Montpellier (France) with a total of 20 participants. Results indicate that organic food has a social value for the participants in our group interviews. This social value depends on the venue (community-supported agriculture, market or supermarket) where organic foods are purchased and also on whether consumers or producers exhibit additional green behaviours to validate their commitment to sustainability. Our results imply that a quantitative study on social value of organic food would be useful to investigate these findings in a larger sample since these findings have several marketing and advertising implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandrine Costa & Lydia Zepeda & Lucie Sirieix, 2014. "Exploring the social value of organic food: a qualitative study in France," Post-Print hal-01506305, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01506305
    DOI: 10.1111/ijcs.12100
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Konuk, Faruk Anıl & Otterbring, Tobias, 2024. "The dark side of going green: Dark triad traits predict organic consumption through virtue signaling, status signaling, and praise from others," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    2. Roh, Taewoo & Seok, Junhee & Kim, Yaeri, 2022. "Unveiling ways to reach organic purchase: Green perceived value, perceived knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, and trust," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Liu, Hongfei & Meng-Lewis, Yue & Ibrahim, Fahad & Zhu, Xia, 2021. "Superfoods, super healthy: Myth or reality? Examining consumers’ repurchase and WOM intention regarding superfoods: A theory of consumption values perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 69-88.
    4. Hrubáa, Renata & Tanklevska, Nataliya S., 2021. "Exploring the Social-symbolic Meaning of Eating Habits in the Czech Republic and Ukraine," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 12(04), December.
    5. Jinsoo Hwang & Heather (Markham) Kim & Jinkyung Jenny Kim, 2023. "Examining the Importance of Motivation and Its Impact on Outcome Variables in the Context of Edible Insect Restaurant," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    6. Mohammad Nurul Alam & Osarodion Ogiemwonyi & Ibrahim. E. Hago & Noor Azlinna Azizan & Fariza Hashim & Md Sazzad Hossain, 2023. "Understanding Consumer Environmental Ethics and the Willingness to Use Green Products," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    7. Aleksandra Kowalska & Julia Wojciechowska-Solis & Milena Bieniek & Monika Ratajczyk & Louise Manning, 2023. "Declared non-buyers of organic food: A study of young British and Polish consumer profiles," Ekonomista, Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne, issue 1, pages 28-50.
    8. Geetika Varshneya & Shivendra K. Pandey & Gopal Das, 2017. "Impact of Social Influence and Green Consumption Values on Purchase Intention of Organic Clothing: A Study on Collectivist Developing Economy," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 18(2), pages 478-492, April.
    9. Zohra Zinoubi Ghali, 2021. "Motives of ethical consumption: a study of ethical products’ consumption in Tunisia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 12883-12903, September.
    10. Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag, 2015. "Organic Food Perception: Fad, or Healthy and Environmentally Friendly? A Case on Romanian Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Mausam Budhathoki & Sujita Pandey, 2021. "Intake of Animal-Based Foods and Consumer Behaviour towards Organic Food: The Case of Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.

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