INDIVIDUAL PAPER

Organic products consumption

SCH-20806
Lifestyles and Consumption
January 2011

Mélanie COURIERA

Introduction 3 Historic of organic product consumption in the context of consumer society 3 The patterns of organics products consumers: importance of social and cultural meaning 4 The sovereignty of organic food consumer 6 Evolution from traditional society to modern society: consequences on organic products consumption 7 Organic food consumption: a respond to globalization 8 Organic products and social relationships 9 Food commodities and gift 10 The ecological modernization: a respond to the sustainable consumption paradox 12 The organic products consumption within the process of ecological modernization 12 The organic products consumption and consumer society’s behavior 13 Conclusion 14 References 16

Introduction

“The term “organic product” refers to “organically grown foods”, meaning that plants grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fungicides, or inorganic fertilizers, and prepared without the use of preservatives”. (Oxford dictionary)
There is a great deal of consumer interest in organic product and organic food market continues to grow in order to respond to this increased demand. Indeed large food growers, processors, manufacturers and retailers have increased their offering of organic products.
The organic food industry is evolving in two markets (Knudson,2007): * The “the health market”: a market where low cost production practices and economic scale are important aspects. Organic food is seen as a commodity. * The “traditional market”: a market where the consumers are interested in the social aspects of organic production. The respect of the environment and the locally produced food are important market markers.
This paper focuses more on “the traditional market” because of individual interest in discovering more about it. Through the paper, answers will be given to the