Relationship between decision-making factors and income for vegetable purchases at the beginning of the pandemic in Brazil

The consumption of vegetables is essential for the population's quality of life, especially in a period of sanitary crisis caused by the new coronavirus. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the initial impact of the pandemic on vegetable consumption habits in Brazil, evaluating the relationship between monthly income and the main factors that guided consumers when purchasing vegetables in Brazil. With this purpose, at the beginning of the pandemic, a questionnaire was applied through GoogleR Forms, which was disseminated online through applications and social networks in the form of an opinion poll. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test in order to verify the association of income with decision-making factors in the consumption of vegetables in Brazil. The results indicated that income shapes consumer behavior and exerts different impacts for certain vegetable crops. In addition, quality stood out as a more important factor than nutritional benefits when consumers were purchasing vegetables, even during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil.