The purpose of the study is to determine how consumers perceive certification marks for agricultural products. The study examined three agricultural product certifications, such as the certification of environment-friendly agricultural products, Good Agricultural Procuts (GAP) certification mark, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification mark. A survey was utilized for data collection from adults over the age of 19 in November, 2013. A total of 390 questionnaires were distributed, and 300 of those were obtained for an analysis of the study. The results were as follows. First, consumers' awareness of, image of, and credibility on the agricultural products with the certification marks were not significantly different among the three certification marks except consumers’ awareness. Second, consumers’ purchase intentions for and willingness to pay for the agricultural products with the certification marks were not significantly different among the three certification marks. Third, these variables were not significantly different between buying group and non-buying group except consumers’ awareness. Lastly, buying group and non-buying group were significantly different only in gender and marital status. The findings offer implications to the food and food service industry regarding consumers’ purchase of certified agricultural products. Further, the study enforces the roles of food industry for environment.

한국의 농업분야에는 여러 가지 인증제도가 존재한다. 그 예로 유기농산물 인증, GAP인증, KPGI인증, TOP푸르트/TOP라이스 인증 등이 있다. 이러한 인증제도는 소비자에게 안전하고 고품질의 농산물을 보장하기 위해 시행되었다. 하지만 각 인증제도가 명확한 목적을 보유함에도 불구하고 이러한 인증제도들이 소비자에게 관련정보를 수반하는데 성공적이지 못하다는 평가를 받고 있다. 그 이유로는 현존하는 몇몇의 인증제도가 오히려 소비자들을 혼란스럽게 하고 있다는 것이다. 그리고 각각의 인증제도를 별도로 유지하고 홍보하는 것은 더 많은 비용을 발생시킨다. 이 연구에서는 여러 인증제도를 활용하여 이러한 문제를 해결하고자 하는데 그 목적을 두고 있다.

The objective of this study is to propose a necessity of alternative certification for low-pesticide agricultural products (LPAP). For this, we conduct a survey consumer and distributor. Most of consumer does not aware an abolition of LPAP. After abolition, they will purchase pesticide-free, organic, conventional, GAP certificated in order. Both consumer and distributor need an alternative certification of LPAP and have willingness-to-purchase. However, it is necessary to make up for the reliability and objectivity on the alternative and to manage a poor certification. The results of this study is meaningful to distribution and consumption of environment- friendly agricultural products.