A Study on Changes in the Consumption Behavior of Non-timber Forest Products in the Gyeonggi, Seoul, Incheon

To make forestry households competitive and their incomes stable, production methods should align with consumer demands. This study analyzes metropolitan households' consumption behaviors regarding Non-timber forest products (NTFP) and agricultural products using agri-food consumer panel data from the Rural Development Administration (2010-2021). We examine demographic differences in purchase preferences, focusing on shiitake mushrooms, persimmons, and chestnuts, which have high household purchase frequency. Findings show that raw NTFP account for less than 3% of total grocery consumption, which is lower than that of agricultural products. While the consumption of processed agricultural products has increased steadily, the consumption of processed NTFP has remained stagnant at below 1% over 12 years. Preferences for shiitake mushrooms varied significantly by age and household income, for persimmons by age and household size, and for chestnuts by household size and income. These results inform strategies and policy recommendations to promote NTFP consumption.