The number of farmers' markets in United States (U.S.) increased dramatically from 1775 markets in 1994 to 8,476 markets in 2014. However, few studies have investigated consumers' food safety perceptions toward products in farmers' market or their impact on consumers' purchasing behaviors. The objectives of this study were to understand consumers' perception of food safety at farmers' markets and to explore the role of food safety perception on their purchasing fresh produce at a farmers' market. Analysis of covariance was used to investigate food safety perceptions at farmers' market among different demographic groups. In addition, multiple linear regression was used to explore factors including consumers' food safety perception and quality perception on their purchasing at a farmers' market. The results from the ANCOVA indicated that millennial generation consumers perceived better food safety conditions at farmers' markets. The linear regressions indicated quality perception and willingness to support local foods are primary reasons that consumers purchase products at farmers' markets, while food safety perception is not significantly related to purchasing fresh produce. The results imply that consumers generally hold a positive food safety perception that may be in contrast to actual microbial safety of produce obtained from farmers' markets. The results highlight an increasing need for consumer education specifically related to food safety awareness at farmers' markets.
Corporate investments in diversity management programs have increased over the past two decades. Across two samples, the current study used experimental methods to examine if organizational attraction and person-organization fit (P-O fit) are influenced by corporate investment in diversity management. In Study 1, 132 hotel managers read about a hotel company that either invested in diversity management programs or removed their investment. In Study 2, 159 hospitality students on the job market read about a hotel company that either invested in diversity management programs or did not read this statement. The results of the current study showed why investing in diversity management matters, namely, because investing in diversity management influences organizational attraction. Across two studies, the participants were more attracted to an organization if the organization invested in diversity management and P-O fit mediated the relationship between corporate investment in diversity management and organizational attraction.
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