Study of Latin American consumption of local fruit and vegetables "0 Km”

Horticulture, with its different disciplines (Horticulture/Olericulture, Fruit-growing, Aromatic-Medicinal and Floriculture), has become more relevant, since the Covid-19 pandemic, with a greater appreciation of products from short chains. The objective was to evaluate the degree of knowledge, behavior and preferences of Latin American consumers, regarding the safety, quality and origin of local fruits and vegetables (F&H) produced and consumed within a radius of no more than 100 km, differentiated with the "Km 0” logo. An online survey was generated (GoogleForms): Study on the Latin American production and consumption of "Km 0" fruits and vegetables, within the framework of inter-institutional links (UNCPBA, UNMDP, UNSL, UCA and INTA CERBAS Area, from Argentina;UdelaR, Uruguay;UNAL and UniSalle, Colombia;BUAP, Mexico;UFRRJ, Brazil), from 03/09/2022 to 07/12/2022. The main topics were: Degree of knowledge of the F&H category "Km 0”;Perceived benefits;Predisposition to consume and acquire them;Degree of evaluation of the "Km 0” labelling;and dissemination campaigns;Places of purchase and changes since the pandemic;Valuation of having lists of local producers of F&H "Km 0”;Knowledge of the place of production of the F&H and assessment of the promotion of local productions;Knowledge of GAP;Acquired food and Assessment of the origin of F&H consumed. The surveys answered were 1127. Ignorance of the "Km 0” category was detected (60%), low consumption of F&H (17% consume 5 ≥ portions/day) although there is a high assessment of F&H in the diet (80%). The need for permanent training and dissemination, of the production and consumption of safe and quality F&H, in quantity and diversity, was evidenced. The pandemic was a turning point from which consumers became aware of the importance of the origin of the products consumed, preferring local F&H. © 2022, Asociacion Argentina de Horticultura - ASAHO. All rights reserved.

Urban vegetable production, foundations for a healthy diet and safe food handling

Within the socioeconomic and health context generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many families suffered a restriction in their job opportunities, which had as a consequence that a greater number of people needed to seek social help in shared neighborhood spaces. With the objective of contributing to give an answer to this problem, in the Facultad de Agronomía – UNCPBA, an interdisciplinary extension project named "Optimization of food production, handling and consumption within the family scope, for a better life quality" was carried out, in the following thematic areas: local horticulture production, healthy eating and food handling hygiene. Training theoretical and practical actions were generated with biosafety protocols, in three social food areas of Azul. In 2021 the afore mentioned was greater in one of the spaces. In each meeting, there was a stimulation to acquire new production and consumption habits, through innovative techniques (nursery, vegetable plots, production of sprouts and microgreens), and to implement good manufacturing practices for general food preparation and for preserved food in particular, in order to diversify the ways of consumption and to encourage the entrepreneur spirit. In general terms, the project provided the acquisition of new skills, the exchange of experiences and the multiplier effect on the participants, their families and society in general. Also, consumer education was included regarding the choice of healthy alternatives and the importance of the correct interpretation of nutritional labeling. The project promoted the resilience of those families and the transformation of consumers into "prosumers" (producers/consumers), with entrepreneur profile, seeking feeding optimization and safety of food. © 2022, Asociacion Argentina de Horticultura - ASAHO. All rights reserved.

Latin American reality of 2020 vegetable production and consumption, in COVID-19 times

Vegetable consumption has become relevant in the present global socio-economical and sanitary context. Consequently, the need to have a dynamic diagnosis in Latin American countries arises in order to guide actions of spreading vegetable and fruit production and consumption. Therefore, a survey was carried out in 12 Latin American countries with 518 respondents. This survey was driven by the Horticulture teams of the Latin American universities: Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Argentina, Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (BUAP), Mexico, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL) and Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL) Argentina, within the framework of their projects and interinstitutional bonds. The survey aimed at having an updated panorama about the reality of vegetable production and consumption, preferences, habits of consumption and changes produced in the Latin American population's diet due to the COVID-19 global pandemics. The results obtained show the existence of differences between perception and the reality of the population's consumption generating the need to drive actions to produce coincidence of what the population believes it consumes with what it actually does, so as to have a diet rich in quantity, quality and diversity of vegetables that benefits its health and life quality and reduces the risk of developing potential illnesses.

National reality of 2020 vegetable production and consumption, in COVID-19 times

In the present complex socioeconomical and sanitary context, with the aim of having updated information on the national reality of vegetable production and consumption, of the Argentinian population's preferences and consumption habits of vegetables as well as the changes produced in their diet due to the global COVID-19 pandemics, a national survey, titled "Trends in the consumption of vegetables in Argentina in Coronavirus times" was carried out obtaining 1694 responses. The Argentinian population has had a great inclination to start growing, urban family gardens in this new context;it has clear consumption preferences, it values the benefits of consuming vegetables for health reasons and considers it has an adequate proportion of vegetables in its diet. However, the survey shows that real consumption is much lower than that recommended by national and international entities arises from the survey. Therefore, there is a great asymmetry between what the population believes it consumes and what it actually eats. This fact implies intensifying actions towards raising greater awareness of these differences and promoting adequate consumption of quantity, quality and diversity of vegetables to improve well-being, reduce the risk of developing illnesses and benefit the population's life quality by various organizations and institutions.