중소도시 주부들의 과일 소비실태 및 수입과일에 대한 인식

Fruit Consumption and Perception of Imported Fruits among Housewives Living in Small Cities

The purpose of this study was to examine purchasing behavior and consumption frequency of fruits, and perception of imported fruits among housewives living in small cities. A questionnaire survey was conducted to 265 housewives living in Cheongju, Suwon and Pohang from May to June in 2015. The place to buy fruits were fruit shop (30.9%), large discount store (25.3%), nearby supermarket (17.7%), and traditional markets (16.6%). When purchasing fruits, 34.3% answered they always checked their country of origin, 34.7 % answered ‘sometimes’, and 25.7% seldom checked, and 5.3% never checked. While 53.6% preferred domestic fruits, 46.4% preferred imported fruits or they do not care about the country of origin. These purchasing behaviors of fruits were significant different according to age. More than 90% had experience in purchasing imported fruits. Fruit consumption frequencies were higher in the group aged 50 or older than the group aged less than 40. Apple and tangerine were the most frequently consumed domestic fruits, and banana and orange were the most frequently consumed imported fruits. The most important factors for choosing fruits were taste, freshness, safety, price, nutrition in the order. They perceived imported fruits as tasty and having different types and flavor, but negatively perceived in terms of freshness, safety and hygiene. While the housewives thought that taste, freshness, and safety were the most important factors for choosing fruits, they do not think imported fruits were fresh, safe, and hygienic.