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The Huron Expositor, 1995-03-15, Page 41,. • • 4, • • 4.o..., i ., /A,'L. o e..A: ,.1. i. o'. • Vii, /...a .:.:..:..::.:.• 0.0 Farm Progress 'tib' -Pape 23 Shoppers are uneasy about new technologies Results of a recent consumer attitudinal study show that con- sumers may need to be reassured about the safety of our food produc- tion and processing practices. The Grocery Products Manufacturers of Canada (GPMC) annually conduct a consumer survey entitled "Grocery Attitudes of Canadian". Key findings of the 1993 survey include; New Technologies Shoppers are uneasy about new food technologies and about some of the additives and ingredients used in food processing - they may need to be reassured about the safety of these techniques and ingredients. On average, about Vs of all shop- pers expressed confidence m the safety of these technologies and ingredients, while one quarter had serious reservations about them. The remaining shoppers (almost one hall) were generally undecided or somewhat unsure about aspects of food processing. As for existing additives and ingredients, shoppers seem to be more concerned about the use of coloring, antibiotics and preservatives than pesticides. Among principal grocery shop- pers, women express more concern about food processing and ingredients than men. The clearest difference is in attitudes towards irradiation -- male shoppers are far more confident about the safety of irradiated food than are female shoppers. This gap in confidence is important since women are primarily responsible for purchasing food and it points to the need for education on new food tech- nologies. The history on cucumbers The first experiments with green- house horticulture were by the ancient Romans, so in fact we can say that the true beginnings of the industry go back a very great dis- tance. The concept stayed at that largely unformed -stage, however, for many centuries. Though there were greenhouses that began to seem more like modern ones several hundred years ago in England and on the European continent, it was not really until the Victorian period, when it became possible to properly control such things as ventilation, heating and irrigation in such en- vironments, that we began to see them in greater numbers. And today, of course, the technology of greenhouse growing is extraor- dinarily advanced. Today's greenhouse cucumbers, it should be noted, are varieties specifically bred for greenhouse culture -- approximately 99 per cent of the greenhouse cucumber varieties now grown in North America are varieties developed in Holland. (Foodland Ontario). Regionally, shoppers in B. C. are the most hesitant about food safety while attitudes in Quebec are somewhat mixed. The need for education about food safety is consistent with the findings of a 1990 study on food safety conducted for the Con- sumers' Association of Canada. Providing shoppers with infor- mation about food safety may improve their overall confidence in the food supply. Spending Across all households, Canadian shoppers spend on average about $85 per week on groceries. Four in ten Canadian households spend at least $400 a month on grocery products. According to Statistic Canada, food purchases account for 13 per cent of total average household expenditure. Shoppers Women continue to play an extremely important role in grocery shopping (82 per cent of main grocery shoppers). Factors influencing male shoppers are often different than those influencing female shoppers. A dramatic difference is that almost half of male shoppers live on their own. These men account for almost one out of every ten shoppers. (Canadian Animal Health Institute). You just can't beat oil for dependability, low cost - and maximum comfort! Milburn's on Huron Ridge Cres. have just installed a compact high efficiency boiler by Chisholm Fuels. It will produce 100,000 BTU's of domestic warm air and 5 gallons per minute or 300 gallons per hour of hot water. This unit will save the Milburn's 80% in heating costs and is rated at 86.2% efficient. Very impressive! Oil cost him nothing! Bob Scott was paying $343 a month to heat 3 floors of this big home on Highway 21 electrically. He took out a bank loan, and in two years will pay off his conversion from an electric furnace with savings from a Hunter high efficiency oil furnace from Chisholm Fuels. Using this unit Bob will save 80% off his previous heating cost. Being in real estate Bob is keenly aware electrically heated homes reduce the selling potential. Calculate what you pay. Then call us. We'll estimate your savings. FU*_*. SERVICE TEAM FOR ALL YOUR HEATING NEEL)S WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME KEVIN FALCONER & SCOTT CAMPBELL TO OUR TEAM! KEVIN FALCONER HVAC Licensed, Sheet Metal Specialist SCOTT CAMPBELL Trevor VanSickle, Kevin Falconer, Plumbing, Neil Bieman, Eldon Austin, Scott Campbell Hydropic Heating Specialist CHISHOLM FUELS Kincardine Goderich 519 396-8212 519 524-7681 Lucknow Wingham 519 529-7524 519 357-2820