Profile of organic and agroecological products consumers in São Luís, Maranhão

Abstract

The demand for food without pesticides increases annually. The researches that emphasizes
the importance of consumption of healthy food influences the marketing flow. The objective
was to characterize the profile of consumers of organic and agroecological products in São
Luís, aiming to identify socioeconomic aspects, perceptions and habits. Semi-structured interviews
were conducted with 46 consumers at seven marketing points. The majority of respondents
were women (80,43%) in all localities, regardless of schooling and family income. The
main purchase reason was family health (48,15%). The Agroecological and Solidarity Fair and
the Solidarity Economy Emporium were the main places of access to healthy food products
for the low-income population. Consumers’ choice for healthy food contributes to the strengthening
of ecologically based farming styles and encourages farmers to transition to more
sustainable models.