Purchase Frequency of Roots and Tubers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Abstract

Many of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, colon cancer, diabetes and heart diseases being experienced in the Caribbean today can be attributed to changing lifestyles and urbanization. Roots and Tubers have been identified as having a beneficial role in the human diet against some of these diseases. Efforts to increase the purchase frequency and ultimately their consumption in the Caribbean with a view of reducing the current food import bill require the input of researchers. This study focuses on the socioeconomic variables that influence the purchase frequency of roots and tubers in Trinidad and Tobago. The results obtained indicated that the statistically significant variables were age, employment status and marital status. It is therefore concluded that income, gender, educational level attained, ethnicity, and household size does not influence the purchase frequency of roots and tubers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Keywords: Socio-demographic variables, Trinidadian and Tobagonians, Purchase frequency, Roots and Tubers