Organic food and university students: a pilot study
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide information relating to organic food consumption patterns specific to the Canadian population and youth demographic. The primary objective of this pilot study is to investigate the knowledge, consumption patterns and willingness to pay for organic food among the first-year University students enrolled in courses at Brescia University College.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire has been developed by the researchers and distributed to several first-year classes at Brescia University College. The results have been analyzed using Wilcoxon scores (rank sums), Wilcoxon two-sample test, Spearman correlation coefficients and univariate and multivariate regression analyses. A theme analysis has been generated from open-ended questions.
Findings
No significant differences exist between nutrition and non-nutrition students. Attitudes toward organic food and knowledge score significantly impact the consumption patterns and willingness to pay for organic food (p = < 0.0001). Most students indicated that they were willing to pay a premium for organic food and had positive associations with it.
Originality/value
This is the first study relating to this topic and the Canadian population. Results from this study provide baseline data that may be used to conduct future research.
Keywords
Citation
Hamilton, K. and Hekmat, S. (2018), "Organic food and university students: a pilot study", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 48 No. 2, pp. 218-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-06-2017-0127
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited