The United Fresh Produce Association, the US-based fresh produce trade organisation, has released a report highlighting key external factors influencing consumer purchase trends, including political, social and environmental issues.
The group has released the study, entitled 'United Fresh Issues Scan 2008', through its Research and Education Foundation, in a bid to better understand consumer attitudes and behaviours in five major areas: food safety, environmental and social issues, product origin, comparison of different forms of fruit and vegetables, and the impact of issues on purchase intent and desire for information.
The report will be carried out annually, allowing United Fresh to track trends and show how changing consumer attitudes will affect future purchasing patterns.
'With so much public focus on food safety, environmental issues and sustainability, our members have asked us how these issues are likely to affect the marketplace for fresh produce,' said Tim Lovelace, chairman at United Fresh Produce. 'Today's buying decisions are increasingly influenced by a multitude of factors that this research will track to help companies understand how the issues are driving purchasing habits.'
Research for the report, carried out by Harris Interactive for United Fresh, began in March this year but was put on hold during the large salmonella outbreak that began in April and hit many states across the country. 883 produce purchasers were interviewed as part of the process, United Fresh said.
Data gathered will be made available to interested organisations to allow groups to focus on consumer opinions about specific commodities by demographic field, such as gender, region and purchasing volumes.
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