FOOD CHOISE IN FAIRS OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS: A ENVIRONMENTAL PERCEPTION STUDY IN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
ecological perspective; environmental perception; multi-methods; organic fairs; organic food
The hegemonic model of agrarian culture exported to the world through the assumptions of
the Green Revolution solidified values and practices, which warms the conviction that its
paradigms are the solution to the food problems on the planet. With the endorsement and
tolerance of public governance of some countries, the bioimperalism of monocultures with the
use of agrochemicals, conducted a biological and sociocultural devastation of millenarian
traditions of food cultivation. One of the possibilities of opposition to this paradigm arises in
sustainable alternative systems, such as organic food production. In Rio Grande do Norte,
especially in the city of Natal, short marketing circuits such as organic fairs have the purpose
of establishing socio-cultural, economic and environmental sustainability. This research of
qualitative and exploratory inclination aims to explore the perception regarding organic food
by its producers and consumers in specialized fairs. As epistemological and theoretical-
methodological presuppositions, I used the Systemic Perspective and the Barker Ecological
Approach, respectively. I conducted a naturalistic observation in three fairs specialized in
organic sales in 101 days of data harvesting. The investigation comprised two organizational
stages, with verbal and nonverbal aspects related to the sale and consumption of organic
products at fairs. In a theoretical saturation sampling, 04 producers and 04 consumers from
the fairs were interviewed, and 657 people were observed during this period. The research
tools included place-centered behavioral mapping and context-based analysis with inspiration
in behavior setting theory. Specific analytical techniques of each instrument were applied and
methodological convergence was established within an organization of thematic analysis with
an interpretative basis, integrating the findings through observed behaviors, the internal logics
to the spoken behaviors and the relations constructed throughout the investigative process.
The analytical process demonstrated that the choice of organic involved cognitive and
affective understandings permeated by motivational aspects related to biological health,
philosophical-religious aspects and ethical-environmental aspects of the people involved.
Understandings about this phenomenon in food may contribute to the induction of knowledge
in the area of human-environment relations, adding an interdisciplinary comprehension on the
issue.