Wild leafy plants market survey in Sicily: From local culture to food sustainability

Carla Zarbà; Valeria Allegra; Alfonso Silvio Zarbà; Giovanni Zocco; Carla Zarbà; Valeria Allegra; Alfonso Silvio Zarbà; Giovanni Zocco

doi:10.3934/agrfood.2019.3.534

AIMS Agriculture and Food

2019, Volume 4, Issue 3: 534-546. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2019.3.534

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Research article

Wild leafy plants market survey in Sicily: From local culture to food sustainability

1.
Department Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
2.
Agronomist: Research collaborator Di3A, Catania, Italy

Received: 07 April 2019 Accepted: 20 June 2019 Published: 11 July 2019

This study aimed to evaluate potential changes in habitual and occasional consumers in the use of wild plants in human nutrition. This objective was achieved towards research carried out in a territory rich on biodiversity and agricultural landscapes (wild plants strip), place of origin of many civilizations; that is, in Sicily. The results of a sample of 134 people—supported by discussions with local peddlers—have shown that the interest for human consumption of wild leafy ‘vegetables’ is widespread, so much so that these are included among new food lifestyles. Mainly nutritional aspects related to health, popular tradition and the sustainable perspective determine the value of these vegetables. The importance of preserving and enhancing the local edible flora emerges, if the relative market conditions (season nature of wild leafy plants; food supply chain) are in close synergy with the principles of the circular economy.
- food sustainability,
- environmental sustainability,
- circular economy,
- wild leafy plants edible
Citation: Carla Zarbà, Valeria Allegra, Alfonso Silvio Zarbà, Giovanni Zocco. Wild leafy plants market survey in Sicily: From local culture to food sustainability[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2019, 4(3): 534-546. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2019.3.534

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate potential changes in habitual and occasional consumers in the use of wild plants in human nutrition. This objective was achieved towards research carried out in a territory rich on biodiversity and agricultural landscapes (wild plants strip), place of origin of many civilizations; that is, in Sicily. The results of a sample of 134 people—supported by discussions with local peddlers—have shown that the interest for human consumption of wild leafy ‘vegetables’ is widespread, so much so that these are included among new food lifestyles. Mainly nutritional aspects related to health, popular tradition and the sustainable perspective determine the value of these vegetables. The importance of preserving and enhancing the local edible flora emerges, if the relative market conditions (season nature of wild leafy plants; food supply chain) are in close synergy with the principles of the circular economy.

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