Browsing by Author "Jokiaho, Marika"

This study examines youths images and attitudes toward organic products and its production. The study seeks to answer questions like what kind of images and attitudes youths have about organic products? Are there any differences in images and attitudes between boys and girls? How much influence does family consumption habits have? This study has been executed by questionnaire on autumn 2008. The sample consists of 9th graders (n = 127) from two different areas. These areas were the Helsinki metropolitan area and the southeast-Finland area. Youths images of organic products are mainly positive. They think that the products are healthy, tasty, environmentally friendly, authentic and pure but expensive. Youths consider organic as modern and fashion-able and they don t think of it as a passing trend. They also appreciate being natural and are interested in the origin of food and also in the way the food has been produced. Girls think of organic a little more positively than boys do. Between Helsinki metropolitan area and southeast-Finland area, there were no significant differences in images or attitudes toward organic products. The consumption habits of families have a clear effect on the youth s images and attitudes toward organic products. In families where organic products have been consumed more, the youth trusted organic products more than in families where organic products ha-ven t been used as much. Youths of families using organic products also wanted to use the products more than youths whose families haven t used them. Thus, being acquainted with the products is important and increases the trust toward organic.