Assessment of Consumer Demand for Organic Products in the Moscow Region

The research aims to determine the factors influencing the demand and consumption of organic products in the Moscow Region. To achieve the research goal, the authors surveyed residents of the Moscow Region. The survey analysis results allowed the authors to conclude that people who consciously consume organic products do not always belong to the category of people with high incomes. They are people with a particular set of values and lifestyles. The main factors of demand for food products are the quality of products, their composition, and price. As indicated by the survey, 70.4% of respondents are interested in consuming organic products; 32% do not correctly perceive the concept of organic products, often substituting it with farm products. Less than 8% of respondents ask for its certificate when buying organic products; pseudo-labeling of producers often misleads consumers. The survey results revealed the problem of low awareness among the population about the quality, useful properties, and peculiarities of organic production and consumer incompetence. Proposals to increase demand for organic products include the following: (1) strengthening the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the need to address environmental issues; (2) increasing public awareness of organic products; (3) development of marketing of organic products; (4) expansion of the national system of standardization, certification, and control of organic products, equivalent to international norms and regulations; (5) state support for organic producers through subsidies and the introduction of reduced prices for organic products.