Consumers Perception Of Organic Food In A Peri-Urban Area In Queensland Australia

This study aimed to understand peri-urban areas consumers perception of organic food and the importance of organic certification in customers decisions for obtaining insights into their consumption of organic food. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey at two main supermarkets in Gatton town Queensland Australia. This research showed that 42.4 of consumers purchase organic food at least once per month. Health protection was found the most important reason for Australian peri-urban consumers to purchase organic food. Most of them 89.5 were interested in organic food but only around 59 of consumers were confident with the claimed benefits of the food and 42 trust in the organic certification. The more consumers are interested in trust and are confident with the claimed benefits the more likely will they purchase organic food. In addition organic labels and certification turned out to be important for the consumers when shopping organic food. This research was the first study to investigate the consumers perception of organic food in an Australian peri-urban area especially relationships between the frequency of purchase and consumers level of knowledge and their behaviors toward organic food. Both practical and theoretical contributions of this study are also discussed.