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This study assesses consumer preferences during fruit and vegetable (FV) sales, considering the sociodemographic variables of individuals together with their choice of point of purchase. A choice experiment was conducted in two metropolitan areas in Northwest Italy. A total of 1170 consumers were interviewed at different FV purchase points (mass retail chains and open-air markets) using a paper questionnaire. The relative importance assigned by consumers to 12 fruit and vegetable product attributes, including both intrinsic and extrinsic quality cues, was assessed by using the best–worst scaling (BWS) methodology. The BWS results showed that “origin”, “seasonality”, and “freshness” were the most preferred attributes that Italian consumers took into account for purchases, while no importance was given to “organic certification”, “variety”, or “brand”. Additionally, a latent class analysis was employed to divide the total sample into five different clusters of consumers, characterized by the same preferences related to FV attributes. Each group of individuals is described on the basis of sociodemographic variables and by the declared fruit and vegetable point of purchase. This research demonstrates that age, average annual income, and families with children are all discriminating factors that influence consumer preference and behavior, in addition to affecting which point of purchase the consumer prefers to acquire FV products from.

11 12In the food industry, radio-frequency identification systems could be exploited for 13 traceability, logistics as well as for anti-counterfeit purposes. In this paper, a complete item-14 level radio-frequency (RF) traceability system is presented for a high-value, pressed, long-15 ripened cheese. The main contribution of this paper consists in experimenting with different 16 techniques for fixing tags to the cheese and solutions for automatic identification adapted to 17 handling procedures as implemented in a dairy factory. All item movements are thus 18 automatically recorded during the production, handling in the maturing room and warehouse, 19 delivery, packing and selling phases. 20Fixed and mobile RF devices operating at low, high and ultra-high frequency bands were 21 considered for both static and dynamic identification of single/multiple cheese wheels. 22Factors such as tag type and shape, required power, antennas polarization and orientation, 23 fixing method and ripening duration were considered in order to verify their effect on 24 reading performance and system reliability. 25 26

The modern consumer is now more attentive towards animal welfare practices and this represents an important factor when purchasing meat, whereby ethical, sociological and economic implications are evaluated. In addition, the socio-demographic characteristics of consumers evidence different sensitivities with regard to selection patterns and consumption styles. This study aims to explore the role of Gender in beef meat purchasing preferences, assessing consumer awareness of responsibility towards animal welfare, through the use of cross-tabulation with v 2 to test the different behaviour of men and women and the use of principal component analysis and cluster analysis to classify attitudes of choice according to gender. Among the research aims, this study examined consumer attitudes towards certain 'ethically incorrect' animal products, as well as their awareness of the institutional responsibility in controlling animal welfare standards during the meat production process. The study conducted in Northwest Italy, involving 512 respondents, shows that women are more sensitive to AW aspects and place trust in those responsible for certification of animal welfare standards, such as veterinarians and consumer associations, and also shows that it is possible to identify an 'animal welfare sensitive' profile of meat consumer. HIGHLIGHTSModern consumer evaluates ethical, sociological and economic implications in animal friendly meat purchasing process Gender affects awareness of the responsibilities of veterinary, public health control bodies and consumer associations to verify animal welfare Cluster highlighted consumer differences in perception towards animal welfare ARTICLE HISTORY

A sustainable future for the community is one of the objectives established by the European Union Agenda 2030. Furthermore, sustainable consumption has been identified as one of the possible trajectories for sustainable development. It is for this reason that food production, distribution and consumption ways cannot be overlooked for sustainability achievement, as well as the consumer’s related perception. In this research the Best–Worst scaling methodology was adopted to explore the priorities declared by a sample of 801 consumers among 12 different sustainability definitions selected from the scientific literature. The choice experiment was carried out through face-to-face interviews during two food and wine events closely related to the sustainability theme in the food sector. The respondents considered as sustainability priority definition the “preservation of natural resources”, followed by “decent working conditions” and “accessibility for everyone to healthy and safe food”. Moreover, 5 consumer’s clusters were identified according to the priorities assigned to the different sustainability definitions, as well as to individuals socio-demographic characteristics. The description of the priorities assigned by the clusters to the different sustainability definitions have also been described as guidelines for consumer attitudes towards the different sustainability dimensions (environmental, social, economic and governance).

Abstract:Meat consumers around the world are increasingly paying attention to product quality and safety, and are starting to reduce their meat consumption, especially with regard to red meat. This trend is prevalent in households with children who prefer health-certified meat products. Our study compares meat consumption habits in households with and without children or adolescences (0-18 years). A structured questionnaire was distributed to 401 retail purchasers at 12 different points of sales of meat in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy. Socio-demographic variables and quantitative-qualitative meat consumption habits of retail purchasers were investigated. One part of the questionnaire analyzed the relative importance of 12 meat choice purchasing attributes by employing the Best-Worst scaling methodology, a type of choice experiment. Our research found that households without children (subset B) have higher weekly meat consumption habits than those with children (subset A). Alternatively, the households with children (subset A) have a diet characterized by a greater variety of protein sources, such as legumes and fish. Both of the considered subsets preferred trusted butchers for meat buying, with supermarkets as a second choice. However, only consumers of subset A bought meat from farm butchers. Our team performed a consumer analysis to identify meat consumption patterns in the two considered subsets. Simultaneously, a Best-Worst analysis evidenced several choice attributes with different relevance for the two investigated samples segmentation in three clusters of purchase.

Barge, P., Gay, P., Merlino, V. and Tortia, C. 2013. Radio frequency identification technologies for livestock management and meat supply chain traceability. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 23Á33. Animal electronic identification could be exploited by farmers as an interesting opportunity to increase the efficiency of herd management and traceability. Although radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions for animal identification have already been envisaged, the integration of a RFID traceability system at farm level has to be carried out carefully, considering different aspects (farm type, number and species of animals, barn structure). The tag persistence on the animal after application, the tag-to-tag collisions in the case of many animals contemporarily present in the reading area of the same antenna and the barn layout play determinant roles in system reliability. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the RFID identification system performance and determine the best practice to apply these devices in livestock management. RFID systems were tested both in laboratory, on the farm and in slaughterhouses for the implementation of a traceability system with automatic animal data capture. For this purpose a complete system for animal identification and tracking, accomplishing regulatory compliance as well as supply chain management requirements, has been developed and is described in the paper. Results were encouraging for identification of calves both in farms and slaughterhouses, while in swine breeding, identification was critical for small piglets. In this case, the design of a RFID gate where tag-to-tag collisions are avoided should be envisaged.Key words: Animal identification, farm and livestock management, radio frequency identification, traceability Barge, P., Gay, P., Merlino, V. et Tortia, C. 2013. Technologies d'identification en radio fre´quence pour la gestion du cheptel et la trac¸abilite´de la chaine d'approvisionnement de la viande. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 23Á33. L'identification e´lectronique des animaux peut eˆtre exploite´e par les e´leveurs comme une occasion pour ame´liorer l'efficacite´de gestion du troupeau et la trac¸abilite´. Bien que les syste`mes RFID (identification par radio-fre´quence) pour l'identification des animaux aient de´ja`e´teé nvisage´s, l'inte´gration d'un syste`me de suivi e´lectronique au niveau de la ferme doit eˆtre effectue´soigneusement en tenant compte de diffe´rents aspects (type d'exploitation agricole, le nombre et les espe`ces d'animaux, la structure de l'e´table). La durabilite´du transpondeur chez l'animal, la pre´sence simultane´e de plusieurs animaux dans la zone de lecture de l'antenne ainsi que l'agencement de l'e´table jouent un roˆle de´cisif sur le niveau de fiabilite´du syste`me. Le but de cet article est d'e´valuer le rendement d'un syste`me d'identification e´lectronique RFID et de de´finir les meilleures pratiques pour son utilisation dans la gestion du troupeau. Le syste`me d'identification e´lectronique RFID a e´te´teste´en laboratoire, a`la ferme et da...

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