• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.55-65
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• 2006

Recent trends of global food production, processing, distribution and preparation under free trade circumstance are creating an increase in common' concerns about food safety. It is important that farmers improve agricultural products/food safety for satisfying consumer needs and health. Cognizant to the situation, this study was conducted to analyze how the Producers gather information, and determine their awareness about agricultural Products safety using a safety Questionnaire. The Questionnaire was given to 500 farmers who cultivate rice, fruit trees, vegetables, and other crops from September through October 2005. More than half of the producers felt concerns about the agricultural products/foods safety. Uneasiness of the producers was higher amongst those who were younger and earned a higher income. Pesticides and zoonosis (BSE AI, etc.) emerged as the main risk factors causing concerns among the greatest number of producers. Producers had a positive opinion of the effects and perception of food safety, but no opinion of the activity of government. The producers showed a high level of understanding of the Country of Origin Labeling System (88.2%), the quality certification system of agricultural and livestock products (71.9%), and the raising system of environment-friendly agriculture (72.7%). However, their level of understanding of the GAP (59.3%) and the Traceability System (22.8%) was still low. To effectively implement these policies, awareness of producers who are the beneficiaries of the above policies has to be enhanced. Therefore, the safety information should be provided at a more appropriate time and should be easier to understand.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.173-185
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• 2005

This article indicates that the perceptions on the quality of agro-food are socially constructed. Farmers who were producing red pepper in Eumsung county had somewhat different perceptions on the quality of red pepper according to their own marketing channels. Farmers who were selling their red pepper to consumers by direct marketing tend to think the quality attributes more important as follows; information on producers, ingredients, taste and smell, amount of pesticides input, cleaning the harvested red pepper, quality certification by public authority, and brands. Consumers tend to think safety and production area more important, while farmers tend to think the quality attributes as follows; taste, color, variety, soil environment, and largeness. Based on these research findings, we can give some recommendations as follows; 1) the agricultural extension organization in the Eumsung county should change the strategy for local agriculture towards quality management of red peppers. and 2) the local government need to examine the feasibility of quality certifying on red pepper.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.543-552
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• 1998

A sruvey was conducted to investigate the consumer perception of farm products and processed foods, and to figure out the future direction of food supply system to satisfy the consumer need. From the citizens in Taegu area, 532 housewives were selected as sample subjects by stratified random sam-pling procedure. The main criteria of consumers for purchasing farm products was quality and the main reason for purchasing imported products was cheap price(48.9%). Most of consumers(87%) thought that food safety of farm products was not belong to safe level. Consumers(79.7%) perceived that the labeling system for the place of origin and for the quality are necessary, but they did not have confidence in the current label. Nearly all the subjects(93.6%) were concerned about the hazardness of residual chemicals of imported products, desired the rigorous inspection system for imported products. Consumers in Taegu area had confidence in processed foods in the following order; farmerbrand-product(0.9%), government-authorized farm product(30.0%) and agricultural cooperative association product(26.4%). However, only 73.6% of the consumers had the experience to purchase farmers' processed foods. As a conclusion, it appeared that nutrition education for consumers on food-decision making is strongly required for the substantial segment of population who are still ignorant of safety of imported product and food distribution system.