Abstract:
The study was conducted in La Trinidad, Benguet to determine the perceptions of the consumers on organic vegetables. Specifically, this study accomplished the following objectives: to determine the organic vegetables consumed by the respondents; to find out where they usually buy organic vegetables; to find out the reasons of consumers in buying organic vegetables; to determine the perceptions of consumers on the product attributes of organic vegetables; and to determine the problems encountered by the consumers in consuming organic vegetables in terms of price and quality; and to determine the health benefits of organic vegetables as perceived by the consumers. There were 100 respondents of the study. Survey questionnaire was used in collecting the data.
The organic vegetables consumed by the respondents are: petchay, wombok, camote tops, beans, squash, chayote tops, broccoli, rumen, spinach, kalunay, watercress, and fern. The most consumed is petchay and the least is fern. The places where the consumers buy or get organic vegetables are as follows in descending: supermarket, BSU BIGS Center, LATOP, their own backyard, and swamp. The reasons of consumers in buying organic vegetables are the following in descending order: chemical free, health conscious, safe for kids, and their craving for organic vegetables make them buy. The respondents disagree that the size of organic vegetable is smaller than the conventional; they are neutral regarding the taste. They also disagree that the color of organic vegetable is brighter or darker than the conventional vegetable. They disagree that physical appearance of organic vegetables have slight defects and they are neutral as to the freshness of organic vegetable but they agree that organic vegetable as more aromatic than conventional. They are neutral on the issue that premium price of organic vegetable is affordable. Majority of the respondents did not encounter any problem on the price and quality of the organic vegetables. Some of the respondents said that price of organic vegetable is high and the quantity is too small for the price. Majority of the respondents perceived that eating organic vegetables is beneficial to the body because they are toxin free. Few of the respondents buying organic vegetables is more economical.
