Adekunle, B., Filson, G. C., Sethuratnam, S. and Cidro, D. 2011. Acculturation and Consumption: Examining the Consumption Behavior of African Descendents in Canada. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. 2 (1): 1-17 (original) (raw)

Acculturation and Consumption: Examining the Consumption Behavior of African Descendents in Canada

This paper examines the consumption of ethnocultural vegetables by people of Afro-Caribbean descent in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Canada while considering their acculturation level. The results indicate that the respondents are willing to substitute other closely related varieties for their ethnic vegetables when they are scarce. The acculturation scale also indicates that these Canadians assimilate and accept the values of other ethnic groups while they retain their own identity. As consumption of ethnocultural vegetables is part of their identity, among GTA Afro-Caribbean Canadians there is a very large unmet demand for ethnocultural vegetables, which is likely to be true throughout the country.

Culturally appropriate vegetables and economic development

This paper examines the implications of the demand for ethno-cultural vegetables (ECV) by South-Asians, the largest cultural group in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), on their potential for Ontario agricultural economic development and significant consumer health benefits. A conceptual framework is presented to explain the relationship among factors such as change in demographics, demand for locally produced ECV and both the potential agricultural and health benefits. Analysis of cross-sectional data collected in 2009 also indicates that the respondents have certain characteristics that are pertinent to understanding why they shop in particular stores and their perceptions about what constitutes quality. In sum, household size and percentage spent on vegetables predict their expenditure on ECV, an indication that South-Asians resident in the GTA will continue to demand their ECV. It is thus a niche market that farmers can explore if its potential economic value to them is clarified and the government can provide sufficient support by increasing awareness and creating appropriate economic incentives for farmers willing to grow these vegetables.

Culturally appropriate vegetables and economic development. A contextual analysis.

This paper examines the implications of the demand for ethno-cultural vegetables (ECV) by South-Asians, the largest cultural group in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), on their potential for Ontario agricultural economic development and significant consumer health benefits. A conceptual framework is presented to explain the relationship among factors such as change in demographics, demand for locally produced ECV and both the potential agricultural and health benefits. Analysis of cross-sectional data collected in 2009 also indicates that the respondents have certain characteristics that are pertinent to understanding why they shop in particular stores and their perceptions about what constitutes quality. In sum, household size and percentage spent on vegetables predict their expenditure on ECV, an indication that South-Asians resident in the GTA will continue to demand their ECV. It is thus a niche market that farmers can explore if its potential economic value to them is clarified and the government can provide sufficient support by increasing awareness and creating appropriate economic incentives for farmers willing to grow these vegetables.

Draw and Tell: Dietary Acculturation as Lived by Black Immigrant Children of African and Caribbean Descent Residing in Canada

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2017

Objective: Explore immigrant children's lived experience of dietary acculturation. Design: Draw and tell qualitative research. Participants: A total of 167 school-aged children living in Ottawa, Canada, who had a mother born in sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean. Methods: Children made 2 drawings about foods, 1 related to Canada and the other to their home country, and explained their drawings and what they meant to them. These discussions were recorded and transcribed. Analysis: Foods were counted for each region (Canada/Africa/Caribbean). Thematic analysis was performed. Results: Most children drew different foods for Canada and their home country. Apples were the most frequently mentioned food for Canada. Pizza, juice and sugar-sweetened beverages, fries/poutine, and hamburgers were among the 10 most frequently mentioned foods for Canada, whereas none of the top 10 foods for African and Caribbean countries were highly processed. Rice, chicken, meat, and leafy vegetables were in the top 10 foods mentioned for the 3 regions. Emerging themes were food availability and variety, mothers' lack of time and fatigue, and the school eating environment. Conclusion and Implications: It seems that these black immigrant children experienced dietary acculturation and that changes in dietary habits have had mostly a negative impact on their diet.

Immigration and Chinese food preferences in the Greater Toronto Area

This paper presents important socio-economic characteristics of Chinese Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the impact of these characteristics and acculturation on their expenditure on and consumption of ethnic vegetables. These consumers purchase ethnic vegetables based on attributes such as quality, traceable production, versatility and language. The factors that predict expenditure on ethnic vegetables among Chinese Canadians are as follows: the percentage spent on food out of total monthly income, years spent in Canada and acculturation. The estimated demand per month for Chinese ethnic vegetables in the GTA is $CAD21 million. Meeting this demand with ever more locally produced vegetables will reduce 'food miles', enhance niche market production and facilitate greater agricultural sustainability in Ontario.

Professor, University of Guelph

This paper examines the consumption of ethnocultural vegetables by people of Afro-Caribbean descent in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Canada while considering their acculturation level. The results indicate that the respondents are willing to substitute other closely related varieties for their ethnic vegetables when they are scarce. The acculturation scale also indicates that these Canadians assimilate and accept the values of other ethnic groups while they retain their own identity. As consumption of ethnocultural vegetables is part of their identity, among GTA Afro-Caribbean Canadians there is a very large unmet demand for ethnocultural vegetables, which is likely to be true throughout the country.

Effect of Consumers’ Acceptance of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables and Their Contribution to Household Food Security

Sustainability

In the past decades, indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) have played a significant role in household food security, especially in poor rural households. However, ILVs have been replaced by exotic cash crops in the contemporary world. This study was conducted to assess the consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables and their contribution to household food security of households in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The study used secondary data collected by the South African Vulnerability Assessment Committee in 2016. A total of 1520 respondents were selected using a multistage sampling method. The results from descriptive statistics revealed that most consumers did not produce ILVs but consumed them. Meanwhile, a small number of people produced ILVs yet did not consume them. The results from the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) showed that a large proportion of the population experienced moderate food security while some of the individuals within the population experienc...