RESUMO
Horticulture, with its different disciplines (Horticulture/Olericulture, Fruit-growing, Aromatic-Medicinal and Floriculture), has become more relevant, since the Covid-19 pandemic, with a greater appreciation of products from short chains. The objective was to evaluate the degree of knowledge, behavior and preferences of Latin American consumers, regarding the safety, quality and origin of local fruits and vegetables (F&H) produced and consumed within a radius of no more than 100 km, differentiated with the "Km 0” logo. An online survey was generated (GoogleForms): Study on the Latin American production and consumption of "Km 0" fruits and vegetables, within the framework of inter-institutional links (UNCPBA, UNMDP, UNSL, UCA and INTA CERBAS Area, from Argentina;UdelaR, Uruguay;UNAL and UniSalle, Colombia;BUAP, Mexico;UFRRJ, Brazil), from 03/09/2022 to 07/12/2022. The main topics were: Degree of knowledge of the F&H category "Km 0”;Perceived benefits;Predisposition to consume and acquire them;Degree of evaluation of the "Km 0” labelling;and dissemination campaigns;Places of purchase and changes since the pandemic;Valuation of having lists of local producers of F&H "Km 0”;Knowledge of the place of production of the F&H and assessment of the promotion of local productions;Knowledge of GAP;Acquired food and Assessment of the origin of F&H consumed. The surveys answered were 1127. Ignorance of the "Km 0” category was detected (60%), low consumption of F&H (17% consume 5 ≥ portions/day) although there is a high assessment of F&H in the diet (80%). The need for permanent training and dissemination, of the production and consumption of safe and quality F&H, in quantity and diversity, was evidenced. The pandemic was a turning point from which consumers became aware of the importance of the origin of the products consumed, preferring local F&H. © 2022, Asociacion Argentina de Horticultura - ASAHO. All rights reserved.