Simona Bacarella

Quality Factors Influencing Consumer Demand for Small Fruit by Focus Group and Sensory Test

ABSTRACT The market of berries is a niche of high value in Italy. Small fruit’s healthy properties are well known in the international market, but little is known about the reason for a low commercialization rate of fresh small fruit in Italy. The objective of this study was to assess consumer preferences in Italy for selected berry species. Moreover, the study aims to identify the relevant attributes of berries that affect the demand for this produce according to consumers and to compare these attributes. We assessed relevant attributes affecting the demand for fresh berries for different consumers’ profiles and compared berries’ attributes rankings. The results reveal high concordance between blackberries and raspberries; price is the attribute that constrains more purchases because it is deemed too high. Consumers prefer small fruit because of the rising interest in their nutraceutical value, and they have a higher willingness to pay because of this important attribute.

La filiera siciliana della pasta: un'applicazione della netchain analysis.

The system of Sicilian durum wheat is facing, as indeed is happening to the entire food system, the evolution of consumption patterns toward higher quality requirements: health-wise, primarily, but also including some intangible requirements. Recent acquisitions in the field of healthy food, have called attention to some specific characteristics of Sicilian durum wheat. The durum wheat sector represents a major landmark for regional agriculture, being by far the most widespread arable crop in Sicily; a crop that, over the past 30 years, has evolved considerably, due to the impact of EU regulations. Currently, the whole Sicilian cereal-pasta chain shows shortcomings in organization and size, which severely limit the production of pasta with a significant loss of added value, linkable to its specificity characteristics. The study confirmed the substantial absence of a supply chain for Sicilian durum wheat although there have been attempts, even by the regional government, to build a chain agreement aimed at starting a virtuous process of governance of the quality system for cereals. There is a need, however, for commitment in training at all levels of the supply chain, and the promotion of a culture of sharing of common goals as well as collaboration among the operators, is essential.