Pilot study of variability on demand and knowledge concerning organic food on an example of two Polish regions

N. Kamińska*, M. Gaworski, P. Kaźmierska and A.M. Klepacka

Department of Production Management and Engineering, Warsaw University of Life
Sciences, Nowoursynowska str. 164, PL 02-878 Warsaw, Poland
*Correspondence: natalia.kaminska@poczta.onet.pl

Abstract:

The paper focuses on showing variability of knowledge and demand for organic food in two regions of Poland, i.e. Świętokrzyskie and Mazovian provinces. The selected for detailed investigations Polish regions differed in society wealth. Mazovia province with capitol (Warsaw) is reach as opposed to Świętokrzyskie – mountain province with dominance of more difficult conditions for comfort and affluent life. Basing on questionnaire the group of respondents’ attitude towards organic food was recognized and compared. The problems included in the questionnaire there were factors influencing the organic food buying, factors which influence about the resignation of organic food buying, the availability of information about organic food, availability of organic food in selected regions, requirements for organic food, most frequently purchased organic products, place where consumers buy organic food, consumption frequency of organic food, factors influencing the choice of organic food. The comparison of two provinces indicated differences within the meaning of organic food as well as autonomy in consumer behaviour. Polish society is characterized by a growing interest in organic food. The production industrialization and mass food processing causes people to look for some alternatives. Organic farming gives people that chance. In the conclusions, we have formulated a term mean that due to the consumption of organic products – ‘we are what we eat’.

Key words:

consumer, demand, knowledge., organic food, Poland, production

+Factors underlying consumption of organic food in the opinion of Polish consumers

S. Żakowska-Biemans

Department of Organization and Economics, Faculty of Human Nutrition and ConsumerSciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, ul. Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa

Abstract:

Organic food market in Poland is still at the early stage of development and there are many barriers to overcome, related to both supply as well as demand for organic produce, in order to develop domestic organic food market. Analyses of own data from 2004, 2005 and 2007 face to face interviews with representative samples of Polish consumers show that the most important factors driving purchases of organic food are health, safety and taste. However, other concerns like animal welfare are also pronounced. Organic food have positive connotations in the opinion of Polish consumers. Besides the positive points of organic food, various negative comments also arose, resulting not so much from the essence of organic food itself, but its availability, information on organic food as well as the feeling it is overpriced.

Key words: