Consumo, alimentos e desenvolvimento : a percepção dos consumidores da região do Vale do Rio Pardo - RS.

Abstract

The studies about consumption are gaining relevance as the decades pass. It is known that the act of consuming is intrinsically related with the utilization of natural resources and distinct socio-cultural aspects, revealing through its practice distinct meanings can be highlighted. This work aims to give evidence the possibility of construction of new development models, led by the local actors as a way of action in and for the region. It is taken as general objective analyze how the food consumption of the local family farmers is present in the region of Rio Pardo Valley (RS). By having as base a qualitative methodology, the data were collected by semi-structured interviews with five farmers and 35 consumers of five farmers markets. The data were interpreted by the mean of contend analyze. Among the results found it was possible to perceive the different ways of creating the farmer market, aggregating either small holder farmers with the production based in agroecology premises, also farmers with conventional production. The average age of the consumers is 51, high level of education (graduated and post graduated) and high income. Besides health and food quality the consumers also choose by local products, because they believe that the act of consume locally contributes for the development of the region, playing as directing elements the finance autonomy of the small holder farmers, making agriculture attractive to the young farmers and enrichment of the local economy. At last, it is concluded that in the region there are actors that seek to exercise their citizenship by mean of consumption. These actors realize that through consumption it is possible to strength the local and the Rio Pardo Valley region. The farmer market is a strategy to promote the local food diversity and promote governance and food security for the population of the region.