VI Reasons for not buying Vegetables .

Those housewives who had not bought certain vegetables since Christmas were asked why they had not done so, and those who had only bought vegetables occasionally were asked why they did not buy them more often.

The tables given below show the proportions of those who had not bought, and had only occasionally bought, the different sorts of vegetables, who gave different reasons.

It should be noted that the proportions saying “We grow our own” differ from these given earlier in this report as percentages are based here on the numbers not buying and occasionally buying, and not as previously on the number growing vegetables of any sort. The table on page 10 shows the proportions of the sample giving this answer as compared with the proportions saying previously that they grew enough for their needs.

In the case of the less commonly bought vegetables, broccoli, spinach, kale, curly greens, sprout tops and turnip tops, habit is a strong reason for not buying. “Don’t care for it” is also a frequently given reason except in the case of sprout tops. From 10 to 16% say they have not seen them in the shops.

Those who only buy occasionally, more frequently give expense as the reason for this. This is particularly marked in the case of broccoli. Sprouts, spinach and kale are also said to be too expensive by 10 to 15% of those who only buy them occasionally.

Housewives were unable to buy onions and to a lesser extent leeks because these were in short supply.

The proportions “not caring for” savoy and preferring other vegetables are relatively high.

“We grow our own” is the reason given most frequently for not buying cabbages, savoy, sprouts, and carrots. It will be remembered that relatively high proportions said they had grown enough of these vegetables for their needs, From 29 to 38% say they have not bought sprout tops, turnips, parsnips and leeks because they have grown their own, and these vegetables too were mentioned frequently in answer to the earlier question.

“Miscellaneous” reasons were in most cases that they had been given vegetables by friends and so had not needed to buy any.

In the table below the proportions of the sample giving “we grow our own” as a reason for not buying any are compared with the proportions saying that they grew enough for their needs previously.

In the case of cabbages and savoys, sprouts and sprout tops and carrots the proportions are very close. “Cabbages and savoys" and “sprouts and sprout tops” were classified together in analysing answers to the earlier question. These results may be compared, however, as they are similar sorts of vegetables and enough of one or the other is grown.

Rather more say that they grow broccoli as a reason for not buying it than say they grow cauliflowers and broccoli unprompted in the first question. It is possible that those vegetables are looked on as “extras”, and therefore not mentioned in answer to the first question, and that some of the people concerned would not “need to buy” any even if they did not grow them. The same explanation may hold in the case of leeks and onions.

Other vegetables are not comparable owing to the different classification used in the earlier question.