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Exploring Perceptions of Raspberries and Blueberries by Italian Consumers

Author

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  • Vincenzo Girgenti

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy)

  • Stefano Massaglia

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy)

  • Angela Mosso

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy)

  • Cristiana Peano

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy)

  • Filippo Brun

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy)

Abstract

Consumers can be important active contributors to a sustainable society by selecting foods that are produced respecting environmental and socially ethical standards. In the fruit sector, sustainability issues are often associated with imprecisely defined concepts such as “locally grown”, “freshness” and “local product”. This study has investigated raspberries ( Rubus idaeus L.) and blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) purchases in order to identify how berry fruits choice attributes are ranked by consumers in two Italian Regions, using a choice experiment (best-worst methodology). Twelve attributes—that indirectly refer to the concept of environmental sustainability—have been investigated. According to the preferences expressed by our sample of retail purchasers ( n = 669), the results show that the reasons for the purchase of berries are associated with numerous parameters among which freshness and product origin are the most important and price was not ranked as so relevant. These findings indirectly testify the consumer attention towards the sustainability of local production and the link between sustainability and territory. Therefore, we can presume that the improvement of consumer familiarity with attributes such as “locally grown” and “local product” could support more eco-friendly consumption of raspberries and blueberries.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Girgenti & Stefano Massaglia & Angela Mosso & Cristiana Peano & Filippo Brun, 2016. "Exploring Perceptions of Raspberries and Blueberries by Italian Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:10:p:1027-:d:80495
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    Cited by:

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    4. Luca Brondino & Danielle Borra & Nicole Roberta Giuggioli & Stefano Massaglia, 2021. "Mechanized Blueberry Harvesting: Preliminary Results in the Italian Context," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Gioacchino Pappalardo & Giuseppe Di Vita & Giovanni La Via & Severino Romano & Antonella Vastola & Mario Cozzi & Mario D?Amico, 2019. "Exploring gender differences in the Italian traditional pizza consumption," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 21(1), pages 11-28.
    6. Cristiana Peano & Vincenzo Girgenti & Claudio Baudino & Nicole Roberta Giuggioli, 2017. "Blueberry Supply Chain in Italy: Management, Innovation and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Giulia Maesano & Manal Hamam & Biagio Pecorino & Gioacchino Pappalardo & Mario D'Amico & Gaetano Chinnici, 2022. "Trends in consumers? preferences towards fresh-cut vegetables during the Covid-19 pandemic," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 24(2), pages 1-22.
    8. Biancamaria Torquati & Tiziano Tempesta & Daniel Vecchiato & Sonia Venanzi, 2018. "Tasty or Sustainable? The Effect of Product Sensory Experience on a Sustainable New Food Product: An Application of Discrete Choice Experiments on Chianina Tinned Beef," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-24, August.

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